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U.  S.  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE. 


BULLETIN 


DIVISI6X   OP  CHEMISTI 


- 





RECORD  OF  EXPERIMENTS 


COXDUCTKD   BY    THE 


COMMISSIONER  OF  AGRICULTURE 


Manufacture  of  Sugar 


FROM 


SORGHUM  AND  SUGAR  CANES 


FORT  SCOn,  KANSAS,  RIO  GHANDK. 
AND  LAWRENCE,  LOJDlg 

188 


WASH]  NcTo.V: 
GO\  i:\f    I'  KINTING   >>i   TICK. 

B8. 


Norman  J.  Colman. 


U.  S.  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE. 

DIVISION   OF  CHEMISTRY. 
BULLETIN  No.  17. 


RECORD  <>!•  EXPERIMENTS 


(OXDUCTKI)   BY   THE 


a5ecVa\r- ^T()XEi>   QF  AGRICULTURE 


Manufacture  of  Sugar 


SORGHUM    AM)   SUGAR   ('AXES 


AT 


FORT  seoiT.  KANSAS,  RIO  GRANDE,  NEW  JERSEY, 
AND  LAWRENCE,  LOUISIANA. 


1887-1888 


wash  I  KTGTON: 

GOVERNMENT    PRINTING    OFFICE 


15449— No.  17 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2013 


http://archive.org/details/recaargitOOusde 


INTRODUCTORY    LETTER 


United  States  Department  of  Agriculture, 

Washington,  J),  ft,  January  26,  1888. 

Sir:  Complying  with  your  instructions  I  beg  to  submit  herewith  for 
your  approval  Bulletin  Xo.  17  of  the  Division  of  Chemistry,  containing 
a  record  of  the  experiments  made  by  your  direction  in  the  manufacture 
of  sugar  from  sorghum  and  sugar  canes. 

The  bulletin  is  divided  into  three  parts,  viz  : 

I* art  I,  experiments  with  sorghum  at  Fort  Scott — Containing  the  re- 
port of  M.  Swensou;  drawings  and  description  of  apparatus;  a  digest 
of  the  report  of  E.  B.  Cowgill  to  the  State  board  of  agriculture  at 
Topeka,  Elans.;  and  a  statement  of  the  action  taken  by  the  Depart- 
ment.in  respect  of  certain  letters  patent  granted  to  M.  Swenson  for  the 
use  of  lime  carbonates  in  the  cells  of  the  battery. 

PART  II,  experiments  at  Itio  Grande —-Containing  the  report  of  II.  A. 
Hughes,  drawings  and  description  of  apparatus  use'd,  and  analytical 
notes. 

Part  IH,  experiments  in  Louisiana. — Containing  the  report  of  II.  W. 
Wiley  of  the  results  of  the  experiments  conducted  at  Lawrence,  La. 

Jn  obedience  to  your  further  orders,  I  took  charge  of  the  chemical 
woi  k  of  the  three  stations.  1  taring  the  summer  ^t'  1887  the  necessary 
apparatus  and  chemicals  were  purchased  and  sent  to  the  several  stations. 
Of  my  assistants,  (\  A.  Crampton  and  X.  ,1.  Pake  were  directed  to  take 
charge  of  the  analytical  work  at  Fort  Scott,  and  were  furnished  with 
written  instructions  for  their  guidance  in  taking  samples  and  the  gen- 
eral method  of  analyses  to  be  followed. 

1".  V.  Broadbent  and  H.  Edsoo  were  sent  to  Bio  Grande.  They  had 
the  same  instructions  as  were  given  my  assistants  at  Fori  Scott.  In 
addition  to  this  1  personally  directed  the  beginning  of  their  work.  On 
October  1  1,  L887,  Mr.  Broadbent  resigned  his  position  in  the  Department 

for  the  purpose  of  pursuing  bis  studies  abroad.    Mr.  ESdson  from  that 

date  had  SOle  charge  of  the  analytical  work  until  the  end  o\'  the  season. 

On  April  2,  L887,  G.  L.  Spencer  was  sent  to  Fori  Boot!  to  seenre  the 

removal  of  certain  machinery  to  Lawrence  ami    joined  Mr.  Larthclemy 
in  the  work  of  preparation  at  that  Station. 

At  the  close  of  the  work  at  Fori  Scott,  Dr.  Crampton  and  Mr.  Fake 

also  came  to  Lawrence  to  assist  in  the  chemical  work  at  tli.it  pla.  I 

:: 


Ill  the  following  pages  only  such  chemical  data  are  given  as  are  neces- 
sary to  illustrate  the  experiments  made.  Much  of  the  chemical  work 
is  yet  undone,  and  it  would  delay  too  long  the  publishing  of  this  bulletin 
to  wait  for  its  completion.  All  the  details  of  the  chemical  work  for  all 
three  stations  will  therefore  be  collected  and  published  in  a  separate 
bulletin,  viz,  No.  18.  The  success  of  the  work  at  all  three  stations  has 
been  most  gratifying,  and  the  diffusion  process  for  the  manufacture  of 
sugar  has  been  advanced  beyond  the  experimental  stage  by  the  labors 
of  this  Department,  beginning  in  1SS3,  and  it  is  now  offered  to  the  sugar- 
growers  of  the  country  with  the  confident  assurance  that  it  is  the  best, 
most  simple,  and  most  economical  method  of  extracting  sugar  both  from 
sorghum  and  sugar  canes. 

Kespectfullv, 

H.  W.  Wiley, 

Chemist 
Hon.  Norman  J.  Colman, 

Commissioner, 


Part  I. 
EXPERIMENTS  WITH  SORGHUM  AT  FORT   SCOTT. 


IiETTEJ?  OF  TRANSMITTAL. 

Fort  Scott,  Kans.,  November  0,  1887. 
Sir:  I  herewith  submit  my  report  of  the  experiments  in  the  manu- 
facture  of  sugar  from  .sorghum  cane,  conducted  at  Fort  Scott,  Kans., 
during  the  present  year. 

I  beg  to  acknowledge  my  appreciation  of  the  hearty  support  that  you 
have  accorded  me  while  in  charge  of  this  work. 
Very  respectfully, 

Magnus  Swenson. 
Hon.  Norman  J.  Colman, 

Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  Washington^  J>.  C. 


UK PORT  OF  M.  SWENSON. 

Previous  to  my  appointment  to  take  charge  of  the  experiments  in  the 
manufacture  of  sugar  from  sorghum  cane  at  Fort  Scott,  Kans..  all  at- 
tempts to  make  sugar  from  this  source  in  paying  quantities  had  failed. 
This  was  due  to  many  difficulties,  of  both  a  mechanical  and  a  chemical 
nature,  in  the  manipulation  of  the  cane  and  juice.  The  most  important 
problems  to  be  Solved  were  the  proper  cutting  and  cleaning  of  the  cane, 

the  prevention  of  inversion  of  cane  sugar  in  the  diffusion  battery,  and  to 
find  a  cheap  and  effective  method  for  treating  the  diffusion  juioe. 

PRELIMINARY     EXPERIMEfl  , 

A-  so  mi  as  the  earliest  of  the  amber  cane  approached  ripeness  a  large 

number  of  preliminary  experiments  were  made  in  defecation  and  filtra- 
tion of  juices.    The  experiments  In  filtration  were  made  with  a  small 

filter  pic--  with   a    html  piim;  cloth   used  was  the  same  as  that 

used  in  the  large  presses,  ami  every  precaution  was  taken  to  make  the 
results  pi  ^t  as  \  aluable  as  if  made  on  a  larger  scale.  These  experiments 
were  began  on  July  2  filtering  materials  used  were  finely  pow« 


dered  lignite,  bituminous  coal,  shale,  several  kinds  of  soils,  and  prepared 
carbonate  ofliuie.  The  following'  conclusions  were  derived  from  these 
experiments : 

(1)  None  of  the  above  materials  would  filter  juice  satisfactorily  that 
had  an  acid  reaction. 

(2)  Neutral  juice  filtered  very  slowly  and  a  hard-press  cake  would  not 
form  iu  the  press. 

(3)  With  a  decidedly  alkaline  juice  the  filtration  took  place  much 
more  readily,  but  was  not  entirely  satisfactory  except  with  carbonate 
of  lime. 

(4)  Lignite  did  not  have  any  apparent  decolorizing  effect  ou  the  juice 
except  when  the  juice  had  become  highly  colored  by  adding  an  excess  of 
lime,  when  a  slight  decolorization  took  place.  A  large  number  of  ex- 
periments were  made  with  varying  quantities  of  lignite,  but  in  no  case 
did  it  show  any  superiority  over  fine  sandy  loam,  either  as  a  decolorizer 
or  filtering  medium. 

Experiments  for  testing  the  cutting,  cleaning,  and  elevating  machinery 
were  also  conducted  as  early  as  the  condition  of  the  cane  would  per- 
mit. 

The  method  of  unloading  the  cane  and  getting  it  onto  the  carrier  was 
similar  to  that  employed  last  year.  The  seed  heads,  however,  were  cut 
off  in  the  field.  The  cutters  were  made  by  the  Belle  City  Manufactur- 
ing Company,  of  Racine,  Wis.  They  did  the  work  well,  but  the  ma- 
chines were  too  light  to  stand  the  very  severe  work  they  were  called 
upon  to  do. 

The  cane  was  cut  into  pieces  about  air  inch  long  and  then  elevated  by 
a  drag  to  the  top  of  a  series  of  four  fans  standing  straight  over  each 
other,  each  fan  being  furnished  with  a  separate  set  of  shakers.  The 
cleaning  apparatus,  after  considerable  adjustment,  did  fairly  good  work- 
The  leaves  and  sheaths  were  removed  by  a  suction  fan.  The  cleaned 
pieces  of  cane  were  cut  by  a  rapidly  revolving  cutter,  consisting  of  a 
cylinder  carrying  thirty  knives.  The  cylinder  was  made  up  of  three 
separate  sections,  each  with  ten  knives.  Although  no  difficulty  was  cn- 
countered  in  cutting,  the  work  of  the  cutter  was  very  unsatisfactory.    A 

Large  portion  of  the  Chips  consisted  of  long  pieces  with  the  bark  on  one 
side.  Diffusion  in  this  case  could  take  place  but  in  one  direction,  and 
in  the  largest  chips  of  this  kind  the  extraction  of  the  sugar  was  very  im- 
perfect. The  drag  for  conveying  the  Chips  to  the  cells  was  rebuilt  and 
placed  higher  and  on  one  side  of  the  battery  so  as  not    to  interfere  wilh 

the  packing  of  the  chips  in  the  cells.  The  exhausted  chips  were  dumped 
directly  iotO  a  car  running  on  rails  under  the  battery.  This  car  was 
run  up  an  incline  onto  a  trestle  work  about  I'll  feet  from  t he  ground, 
by  the  aid  of  an  endless  cable.  Two  friction  clutches,  running  in  op- 
posite directions,  served  to  run  the  car  forward  or  backward,  and  the  car 
was  so  arranged  that  the  charge  of  exhausted  chips  could  be  dropped 

at  any  point  by  simply  reversing  the  motion  of  the  '-able. 


EXPERIMENTS  WITH  CRUSHER. 

It  was  the  opinion  of  a  number  of  men  interested  in  this  industry 
that  a  very  much  larger  yield  and  better  quality  of  juice  could  be  ob- 
tained by  the  crushers  if  the  cane,  previously  to  being  pressed,  were 
cleaned  and  macerated,  and  it  was  deemed  best  to  give  the  matter  a 
thorough  trial.  For  this  purpose  a  3-foot  cane  mill  was  purchased  from 
J.  A.  Field  &  Co.,  of  Saint  Louis.  It  consisted  of  a  three-roller  mill  and 
a  supplemental  two-roller  mill.  The  principal  trouble  encountered  was 
in  feeding  the  mill.  Even  with  an  arrangement  ior  forcing  the  chips 
between  the  rolls  not  over  three  tons  per  hour  could  be  forced  through, 
and  the  yield  of  juice  was  but  little  if  any  greater  than  when  whole 
cane  was  fed  to  the  mill. 

The  average  yield  of  syrup  was  about  10  gallons  per  ton  of  cane 
worked.  The  same  kind  of  cane  yielded  by  diffusion  25  gallons  of  syrup 
per  ton  of  cane.  The  cane  used  in  this  trial  was  very  poor,  being 
mostly  lodged.  These  experiments  show  conclusively  the  great  supe- 
riority of  the  diffusion  process  for  syrup  making,  a  very  good  quality  of 
sirup  being  produced  from  very  poor  cane.  It  was  superior  in  both 
color  and  liavor  to  the  sirnp  from  the  mill  juice.  The  juices  from  the 
mill  and  battery  were  treated  precisely  alike  and  they  were  skimmed 
and  evaporated  in  an  open  steam  evaporator.  This  is  a  matter  of  great 
importance  to  all  engaged  in  the  sugar  business,  as  both  at  the  beginning 
and  close  of  the  season  there  will  be  considerable  cane  that  is  not  fit  for 
sugar-making,  and  the  fact  that  25  gallons  of  iirst-class  sirup  can  be 
made  from  such  cane  by  diffusion  makes  it  possible  to  work  even  such 
material  at  a  good  profit. 

The  first  run  for  sugar  was  begun  on  August  26.  The  juice  was  made 
alkaline  with  lime,  and  about  2  percent,  of  carbonate  of  lime  was  added. 
It  was  then  filtered.  To  other  portions  of  juice,  instead  of  carbonate  of 
lime,  3  per  cent,  of  ground  shale,  bituminous  coal,  and  sandy  loam  were 
added  respectively.  The  nitrations  were  very  imperfect  except  with 
the  carbonate  of  lime  and  in  every  way  corresponded  with  the  pre- 
liminary experiments.  Lignite  was  not  used  on  a  large  scale  because 
1  had  at  the  time  no  means  of  grinding  it;  bat  judging  from  a  large 
number  ofl  experiments  made  in  the  beginning  of  the  season,  il  is  safe 
to  conclude  that  it  would  not  have  tillered  any  better  than  the  other 
materials  used. 

Satisfactory  durations  were  only  produced  when  the  juice  had  been 
made  strongly  alkaline,  and  no  materia]  was  found  which  would  filter 
the  juice  \\  hen  lefl  Blightly  acid. 

On  August   30  the   flret    strike  was   made,  and    the  yield  was  a  little 

more  than  LOO  pounds  of  washed  sugar  per  ton  of  clean  cane. 

i.wr.i;  DANE  si  .;  LB, 

TO  prevent   the  inversion  of  the  BUgar  in  batlerv,  about    10  pounds  of 

dry  precipitated  carbonate  of  lime  was  mixed  with  enough  water  to  pro- 


8 

duce  a  thiu  paste.    This  was  added  to  the  fresh  chips  while  the  cell  was 
being  filled,  and  entirely  prevented  any  loss  of  sugar  by  inversion. 

The  carbonate  was  made  by  forcing  carbonic  acid  gas  by  the  aid  of  a 
pump  into  thin  milk  of  lime.  The  injection  pipe  was  perforated  and  lay 
along  the  bottom  of  a  10  by  10  feet  tank  containing  the  milk  of  lime. 
The  gas  was  produced  by  burning  coke  in  a  small  furnace.  When  the 
lime  showed  but  a  slight  alkaline  reaction  it  was  run  oft"  into  a  large 
hole  in  the  ground  where  the  water  soon  drained  away,  leaving  the  car- 
bonate nearly  dry. 

EXPERIMENTS   WITH   DEFECATION. 

On  September  1  filtration  was  dispensed  with  and  experiments  tried 
with  simple  defecation.  The  defecators  were  similar  to  those  in  ordi- 
nary use,  being  simply  round  tanks  with  conical  bottoms  and  furnished 
with  coils  for  heating  the  juice.  This  method  of  defecation,  however, 
was  not  satisfactory,  and  defecation  was  tried  in  a  shallow  pan  HI  feet 
long  and  2G  inches  wide,  with  a  partition  running  lengthwise  in  the 
center,  the  inlet  and  outlet  for  the  juice  being  on  the  same  end  of  the 
pan  on  opposite  sides  of  the  partition. 

This  pan  was  gotten  np  very  hurriedly  and  was  supplied  with  iron 
pipes  for  heating  the  juice.  The  juice,  after  being  previously  limed  and 
somewhat  heated,  was  pumped  into  one  side  of  the  long  heating  pan  and 
run  out  at  the  opposite  side  continuously. 

Being  compelled  by  the  center  partition  to  flow  down  one  side  and 
back  on  the  other,  the  juice  made  a  circuit  of  32  feet.  The  steam  was  so 
regulated  that  during  the  first  1«5  feet  it  was  gradually  brought  to  the 
boiling  point,  while  in  the  opposite  side  it  boiled  rigorously.  In  this 
way  a  strong  current  was  produced  which  carried  all  the  impurities  in 
the  form  of  scum  to  the  quiet  portion  of  the  juice,  where  it  was  removed 
and  returned  to  the  battery,  thus  avoiding  all  waste  and  annoyance 
from  this  source. 

BV  LPOEATION. 

The  juice  was  evaporated  to  from  -jo  to  30*  Bauml,  in  a  double  ef- 
fect evaporator  built  by  the  Pusey  &  Jones  Company,  of  Wilmington, 
Del.    This  apparatus  gave  perfect  satisfaction,    All  the  evaporation 

Was  done  o\  exhaust  steam  of  1  pounds  pressure,  a  small  amount  of  live 

steam  being  nsed  only  when  part  of  the  machinery  was  stopped. 

EXPERIMENTS    IN    BOILING    TO   GRAIN. 

Everj  Btrike  was  boiled  to  grain  iii  the  pan.  Several  experiments 
were  made  to  ascertain  the  result  in  boiling  u  in  and  in,"  the  juice  being 
enriched  by  the  addition  of  sugar  made  from  previous  strikes.     It  is 

\c]\  doubtful,  however,  whether  this  is  to  he  recommended,  excepting 
when  the  juice  is  so  poor  that  a  good  grain  Can  not  he  obtained  in  any 

other  way. 


Owing  to  the  fact  that  we  were  unable  to  secure  a  sufficient  supply 
of  cane  the  work  progressed  very  irregularly.  Only  twice  during  the 
entire  season  was  the  battery  kept  in  operation  continuously  for  twenty 
hours,  and  during  the  sugar-making  season  the  diffusion  battery  was 
emptied  sixty-two  times.  This  entailed  no  inconsiderable  loss,  amount- 
ing to  from  1  to  2  tons  of  clean  cane  each  time  a  stoppage  occurred. 

CASE   WORKED  FOR   SUGAR. 

The  total  amount  of  cane  worked  for  sugar  was  2,G10  tons.  In  this 
is  iucluded  all  that  was  used  for  experiments  in  filtration  and  defecation 
during  the  first  part  of  the  season.  I  have  no  record  of  the  exact  amount 
lost  iu  this  way.  The  total  amount  of  first  sugar  made  was  235,476 
pounds.  This  sugar  was  all  washed,  and  polarized  on  an  average  96  per 
cent.    The  total  amount  of  molasses  produced  was  51,000  gallons. 

TRIAL   RUNS. 

Iu  order  to  ascertain  as  nearly  as  possible  the  average  yield  of  sugar 
per  ton  of  cane  two  trial  runs  were  made. 

FIRST   TRIAL. 

On  September  15  a  strike  was  made  from  133  tons  of  clean  cane.  In 
order  to  obtain  a  better  grain  2,000  pounds  of  sugar  was  added  to  the 
juice  after  it  had  been  defecated;  2,200  pounds  of  juice  were  drawn  from 
each  cell. 

The  following  is  a  record  of  this  experiment : 

Sucrose  in  mm,  juice  from  chips 10.00 

Glucose  in  mill,  juice  from  chips 3.41 

Solids  not  sugar,  juice  from  chips 3.20 

Ratio  of  sucrose  i<>  glucose :..    2.94 

Coefficient  of  purity 60.3 

Sucrose  in  diffusion  juice :.  i»i 

Glucose  in  diffusion  juice 2.60 

Solids  not  sugar,  diffusion  juice 2.50 

Ratio  of  sucrose  i<>  glucose ' 3.04 

Coefflcienl  of  purity 60,  l 

Sucrose  in  defi  cated  juice -. ::  i 

Glucose  in  defecated  juice 2.40 

Solids  not   BUgar,  (If treated  jilice -J.   |Q 

Ratio  of  sucrose  to  glucose :;.  i: 

cienl  of  purity 

Total  w  eighl  of  firsl  sugar pounds        17,608 

added  to  juice do 

Total  yield  1  at  : t\i^ 15,008 

Total  yield  of  secon<  do 

Total  yield  of  molasses 


10 

Yield  per  ton  : 

First  sugar pounds..  113.00 

Second  sugar do 17.  5 

Molasses gallons ..  15,  ."> 

First  sugar  polarized <):>.  0 

Second  sugar  polarized 88.7 

Temperature  in  battery  was  "between  75°  and  80  :  C. 

SECOND   TRIAL. 

Eighty-six  tons  of  clean  cane  were  worked;  54  tons  on  October  1,  and 
32  tons  on  October  2.  All  was  boiled  in  one  strike.  No  analyses  were 
made  on  October  2,  and  unfortunately  the  complete  data  can  not  there- 
fore be  given.    The  juice  was  not  enriched  as  in  the  previous  trial. 

The  following  are  the  results  : 

Yield  of  first  sugar pounds. .  9,  292 

Yield  of  second  sugar do 1,  988 

Yield  of  molasses gallons..  1,  462 

Yield  per  ton  : 

First  sugar pounds. .  108 

Second  sugar do 23 

Molasses gallons..  17 

First  sugar  polarized 97 

Second  sugar  polarized 88 

AVERAGE   YIELD    OF   SUGAR. 

.Making  a  fair  allowance  for  cane  and  juice  lost  in  experiments  during 
the  first  part  of  the  season,  the  average  yield  of  first  sugars  will  be  fully 
100  pounds  per  ton,  polarizing  97.  A  strike  of  average  molasses  boile  I 
to  string  proof  yielded  12J  per  cent,  of  the  weight  of  the  masse  cuite  in 
sugar,  containing  <SS  per  cent,  of  sucrose.  This  is  at  the  rate  of  28 
pounds  per  ton  of  cane.  Had  the  entire  crop  been  boiled  for  seconds 
the  average  yield  per  ton  of  cane  would  not  have  been  less  than  128 
pounds  of  sugar  and  10  gallons  of  molasses.  From  a  financial  stand- 
point the  advantage  of  working  for  seconds  depends  entirely  on  the 
sirup  market.  In  my  judgment  it  would  not  have  paid  this  season,  as 
the  market  is  better  than  for  years  past.  The  entire  product  of  51,000 
gallons  has  already  been  sold  at  a  good  price. 

AVAILABLE  SUGAR. 

It  is  at  once  apparent  thai  (he  old  method  of  calculating  available 

SUgar  must  be  abandoned.      According  to  this  rule  there  would    be  but 

01.6  pounds  available  sugar  per  ton  of  cam'  in  the  diffusion  juice  of  the 
firsl  trial,  when  as  a  matter  of  fact  L30j  pounds  was  obtained.  It  would 
therefore  seem  that  instead  of  preventing  an  equal  weight  of  cane  sugar 
from  crystallizing,  the  glucose  and  other  solids  n<>t  sugar  in  the  juice 
prevented  only  two-fifths  of  their  weight  of  cane  sugar  from  crystalliz- 
ing.    This  18  also  borne  out  by  the  data  furnished  by  the  anal\  .sis  of  the 

juices  during  the  entire  season. 


11 


Average  analyses  from  talks  prepared  J)\j  Dr.  Crampion. 


For  week  ending. 

Mill  juices 

Diffusion  juices. 

Total 
Mij;;tr 

Brix. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Erix. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

(exhaust 
chips). 

in.  9             9  99 
]  7. ::           9.  6:s 
16.4            9.44 
16.4  I          9.96 
14.8  |          9.3  4 

3.  40 

:;'  2  ~i 

2.98 

12.8 
12,  2 
lo.fl 
11.0 
10.  1 

7.74 
6.88 
6  34 

6.60 
6.38 

2.28 

2.21 

2.31 
1.90 

.09 

.96 

.63 

.  98 

October  16  

1.  10 

Average  for  season 

16.3 

9.67 

3.31 

11.4 

6.79 

M 

.  93 

Average  ratio  of  sucrose  to  glucose  in  mill  juices 2.  92 

Average  coefficient  of  purity  of  mill  juices  .  — 

A  verage  ratio  of  sucrose  to  glucose  in  diffusion  juices •>. 3.07 

Average  coefficient  of  purity  of  diffusion  juices 50.5 

The  above  table  discloses  two  very  important  facts  ■ 

(1)  The  very  uniform  condition  of  the  cane  throughout  the  entire  sea- 
son. 

(2)  By  the  use  of  a  small  quantity  of  carbonate  of  lime  in  the  cells 
the  inversion  of  cane  sugar  is  entirely  prevented. 

The  amount  of  sugar  left  in  the  chips  is  larger  than  it  ought  to  be. 
This  is  due,  as  previously  stated,  to  the  bad  shape  of  some  of  the  chips. 
For  this  reason  tin*  juice  was  also  more  dilute,  as  larger  charges  had  to 
be  drawn  in  order  to  get  a  more  complete  extraction.  Up  to  Septem- 
ber 22  the  amount  drawn  was  2,200  pounds.  From  this  to  October  4 
2,640  pounds,  and  from  October  4  to  the  end  of  the  season  2,420  pounds 
were  drawn. 

The  temperature  of  the  battery  was  maintained  near  S0°C. 

EFFECT   OF  HEAT. 

In  order  to  determine  the  amount  of  inversion  taking  place  when  the 
juice  was  evaporated  to  sirup,  in  an  open  pan,  the  following  experiments 
were  made.  Juice  was  boiled  down  in  the  open  pan  used  for  defecating, 
an<l  samples  taken  at  different  intervals. 

The  following  are  the  analyses: 


I  >  t  IX. 

13.0 

21.7 
27.7 

11  86 
lost. 

Ratio  of  sui 
to  glm 

37.20 
41.  in 

[Trial  on  Po  iratoi  i 


12 

The  juice  in  both  cases  was  made  as  nearly  neutral  with  lime  as  pos- 
sible. 

It  seems  from  the  above  that  the  invertive  action  of  the  heat  has 
been  greatly  overestimated,  and  that  when  tbe  juice  is  not  acid  no  ap- 
preciable inversion  takes  place  even  when  the  juice  is  reduced  to  a 
moderately  heavy  sirup  in  an  open  pan. 

From  Mr.  Parkinson's  report  it  will  be  seen  that  the  loss  in  leaves 
and  sheaths  amounted  to  about  11  per  cent,  of  the  weight  of  the  topped 
cane.  This  loss  can  no  doubt  be  somewhat  reduced  when  the  cleaning 
machines  become  better  adapted  to  the  work. 

According  to  a  number  of  trials  with  freshly  cut  cane  the  weight  of 
leaves  and  sheaths  amounted  to  10  per  cent,  and  the  seed  tops  to  15 
percent,  of  the  weight  of  the  whole  plant.  Late  in  the  season  when 
the  leaves  become  dry  this  proportion  is  of  course  considerably  less. 

COST   OP  A  FACTORY. 

A  very  important  fact  to  determine  is,  the  capacity  and  cost  of  a 
factory  that  will  work  the  cane  most  economically.  There  can  be  no 
doubt  but  the  advantages  are  greatly  on  the  side  of  the  large  factory. 
The  office  expenses  and  cost  of  management  will  be  but  little,  if  any, 
greater.  All  the  machinery  required  in  a  large  factory  is  equally  neces- 
sary in  a  small  one  and  the  proportionate  price  of  this  machinery  is  in 
favor  of  the  larger  factory.  In  other  words,  a  factory  working  200  tons 
of  cane  per  day  will  cost  much  less  than  double  the  cost  of  a  factory 
working  100  tons.  Again,  the  cost  of  operating  a  large  factory  is  pro- 
portionately much  less.  It  takes  no  more  men  to  operate  a  diffusion 
battery  with  a  capacity  of  200  tons  of  cane  than  one  half  as  large,  and 
this  is  true  of  the  larger  part  of  the  machinery  in  the  factory.  A  point 
may  of  course  be  reached  where  the  size  of  the  machinery  becomes  too 
large  for  economical  working,  and  when  the  amount  of  cane  needed  for 
winking  will  be  greater  than  can  be  grown  within  easy  reach  of  the 
factory. 

Judging  from  our  present  knowledge,  a  factory  capable  of  working 
from  200  to  260  tons  of  cleaned  cane  per  day  seems  the  most  desirable. 
This  would  require  a  diffusion  battery  of  12  cells,  each  cell  having  a 
capacity  of  L12  cubic  feet.    The  evaporating  apparatus  should  have  a 

capacity  of  260  tons  of  water  per  day  and  a  strike  pan  with  a  propor- 
tionate capacity.  The  cost  of  such  machinery  will,  of  course,  depend 
largely  on  its  kind  and  quality,  and  can  be  readily  obtained  from  any 
reliable  manufacturer.  The  cost  of  a  factory  is  almost  always  under- 
estimated, owing  to  many  items  which  are  not  taken  intoaccount.  The 
capital  for  building  a  factory  of  the  above  capacity  should  Dot  be  less 

than    $100,000    to   $126,000,  any    tiling   below   being   certainly   unsafe. 

Nothing  but  11k- best  machinery  should  be  used  and  ever;  precaution 
should  be  taken  to  prevent  breakage  of  machinery  and  to  be  able  to 


13 

make  repairs  quickly  by  having  duplicate  parts  of  such  machinery  as  are 
liable  to  break.  There  is  no  manufacture  which  depends  more  for  its 
success  on  the  proper  working  of  the  machinery  than  the  sugar  industry. 

COST  OF   WORKING. 

The  success  of  this  industry  does  not  depend  altogether  on  how  much 
sugar  can  be  produced  per  ton  of  cane,  but  the  cost  of  this  production 
must  also  be  considered. 

The  success  of  the  work  during  the  past  season  has  been  largely  due 
to  the  simplicity  and  cheapness  of  the  processes  employed.  For  the 
actual  cost  of  production  and  other  data  of  the  utmost  interest  to  those 
who  contemplate  engaging  in  this  industry,  lean  not  do  better  than 
refer  them  to  the  report  of  W.  L.  Parkinson  to  the  board  of  directors 
of  the  Parkinson  Sugar  Company,  which  I  have  the  permission  to  em- 
body in  this  report. l 

There  is  no  doubt  but  that  82  per  ton  for  working  cane  are  sufficient 
to  cover  all  legitimate  expenses  connected  with  the  manufacture. 

UTILIZATION   OF   THE  EXHAUST   CHIPS. 

It  will  soon  become  a  matter  of  necessity  to  dispose  in  some  way  of 
the  exhausted  chips  from  the  battery. 

The  great  amount  of  this  material  accumulating  about  the  factory 
makes  it  imperative  that  they  be  utilized  in  some  way.  Three  methods 
of  disposition  have  been  suggested  :  (1)  To  return  them  to  the  land  as 
a  fertilizer;  (2)  to  use  them  for  fuel;  (3)  to  manufacture  into  paper 
pulp.  One  of  the  last  two  methods  will  no  doubt  be  adopted.  Some 
experiments  in  using  for  fuel  were  made  during  the  season.  A  large 
portion  of  the  water  was  pressed  out  by  passing  the  chips  through  a  3- 
foot  cane-crusher.  The  chips  dropped  from  the  last  roll  into  a  hopper, 
from  which  they  were  taken  up  by  a  suction-tan  and  blown  over  to  the 
boiler-house.  This  method  of  handling  the  chips  has  many  features  to 
recommend  it.  It  is  very  simple,  and,  besides,  the  chips  are  dried  some- 
what by  being  subjected  to  the  strong  current  of  air.  No  doubt  the 
making  of  paper  pulp  from  the  chips  will  become  the  most  profitable 
disposition  to  make  of  them.    The  cane  after  being  reduced  to  tine  chips 

and  thoroughly  washed  in  the  dill'nsion  battery  is  certainly  in  an  ex- 
cellent condition  for  this  work.  No  attempts  h.;\  6  beeu  made,  as  fir  as 
I  know,  to  make  paper  pulp  on  a  Large  scale  from  this  source,  but  vei  \ 
line  samples  of  pure  white  pulp  have  been  made  in  a  small  way.     Tins 

matter  i^  certainly  deserving  of  thorough  investigation. 

NEEDS   OP    i m:   INDUSTRY. 

One  of  the  greatest  difficulties  which  will  be  encountered  by  those 
engaged  in  developing  this  industry  will  be  the  scarcity  of  men  capable 

ot  operating  factories.     This  will  he  the  most  Serious  hinderance  to  rapid 

:  !.    ]•.    Jt.) 


14 

development,  as  nothing  but  time  can  produce  men  of  the  requisite  ex- 
perience. The  establishment  of  a  school  for  training  young  men  in  this 
work  would  be  of  inestimable  value.  Here  they  should  receive  thorough 
technical  training,  which  should  be  supplemented  with  a  drill  in  the 
factories  while  they  are  in  operation.  This  would  in  a  short  time  de- 
velop a  number  of  men  capable  not  only  of  taking  charge  of  a  factory, 
but  also  qualified  to  conduct  independent  research,  which,  in  so  fruit- 
ful a  field,  could  not  but  result  in  great  good  to  the  industry. 

The  improvement  of  the  sorghum  cane  is  also  one  of  the  subjects 
which  should  receive  immediate  attenlion. 

Although  very  little  has  been  attempted  in  this  line,  enough  has  been 
done  to  show  that  the  cane  sugar  is  greatly  increased  by  good  culture, 
and  that  it  is  susceptible  of  very  great  improvement  by  the  various 
methods  known  to  scientific  agriculture  there  can  be  no  doubt.  The 
idea  that  sorghum  cane  will  grow  anywhere  aud  do  well  with  any  kind 
of  treatment  is  one  of  the  main  causes  of  poor  cane.  Instead  of  re- 
ceiving thorough  culture,  it  generally  gets  only  such  attention  as  can  be 
spared  from  the  other  crops.  If  the  price  paid  for  cane  could  be  reg- 
ulated by  the  actual  amount  of  sugar  it  contained,  the  farmer  would 
soon  find  it  to  his  advantage  to  devote  more  time  to  his  caue  field. 

The  establishmen  t  of  a  sugar  refinery  within  easy  reach  of  the  sorghum- 
sugar  factories  will  be  one  of  the  imperative  needs  .in  the  near  future. 
The  demand  for  any  kind  of  sugar  but  white  granulated  is  compara- 
tively limited.  The  sugar  produced  at  Fort  Scott  averaged  within  2J 
per  cent,  of  being  as  pure  as  the  best  granulated,  while  the  selling  price 
has  been  about  1J  cents  per  pound  less,  or  a  difference  of  about  25  per 
cent.  The  most  feasible  manner  of  conducting  the  refinery,  at  least  in 
the  near  future,  will  be  to  supply  one  or  more  factories  with  the  addi- 
tional appliances  needed, and  when  the  season's  work  is  over  the  sugar 
from  a  number  of  factories  could  be  refined  there  during  the  balance  of 
the  year. 

Before  dosing  this  report  I  wish  to  extend  my  thanks  to  Mr.  W.  L« 
Parkinson,  manager  of  the  Parkinson  Sugar  Company,  for  his  hearty 
co-operation.  The  successful  handling,  cutting,  and  cleaning  the  cane 
were  due  to  the  results  of  his  thought  and  labor. 

1  also  desire  to  express  my  appreciation  of  the  faithful  and  valuable 
Services  rendered  by  my  assistants,  Messrs.  J.  U.  Hart  and  J.  N.  Wil- 
cox ;  and  my  thanks  are  due  Dr.  0.  A.  Crampton  and  Mr.  N.  .1.  Pake, 
chemists  of  the  I '.  S.  I department  of  Agriculture,  for  aid  and  courtesies 

extended. 

CONCLUSIONS. 

In  reviewing  the  work  the  most  important  point  suggested  is  the 

Complete  SUCCeSS  Of  the  experiments  in  demonstrating  the  commercial 
practicality  of  manufacturing  sugar  from  sorghum  cane. 

(4J)  That  Bugar  was  produced  uniformly  throughout  the  entire  season. 


15 

(3)  That  this  was  not  due  to  any  extraordinary  content  of  sugar  in 
the  cane,  but,  on  the  contrary,  the  cane  was  much  injured  by  severe 
drought  and  chinch-bugs. 

(4)  That  the  value  of  the  sugar  and  molasses  obtained  this  year  per 
ton  of  sorghum  cane  will  compare  favorably  with  that  of  the  highest 
yields  obtained  in  Louisiana  from  sugar-cane,  and,  taking  into  consid- 
eration the  much  greater  cost  of  the  sugar-cane,  and  that  it  has  no 
equivalent  to  the  2  bushels  of  seed  yielded  per  ton  of  sorghum  cane, 
also  our  much  cheaper  fuel,  I  say  without  hesitancy  that  sugar  can 
be  produced  fully  as  cheaply  in  Kansas  as  in  Louisiana. 

M.  Swenson. 


SUMMARY  OF  CHEMICAL  WORK  DOXE  AT  FORT  SCOTT,  1837. 
[Abstract  of  report  of  C.  A.  Crampton.] 

Analyses  were  begun  on  the  3d  of  September,  but  a  full  chemical  control  of  the 
work  was  not  established  until  the  8th. 

Samples  of  the  fresh  chips,  diffusion  juices,  and  exhausted  chips  were  taken  in  the 
usual  way,  great  care  being  taken  to  have  them  represent  as  accurately  as  possible 
the  mean  properties  of  the  several  substances  mentioned. 

Table  1. — Analyses  of  juices  of  fresh  chips. 

Number  of  analyses .">.') 

Suck-  Per  cent 

Mean «.».  54 

Maximum 11.51 

Minimum 6.20 

Glucose : 

Mean :',.  10 

Maximum  6.49 

Minimum 1.39 

Total  solids  (spindle) : 

Mean it;.  1 1 

Maximum 17.  18 

Minimum 13.09 

Table  2. — Diffusion  jui 

Number  ot  analyses 51 

BuCrOW    :  IVr.  .  at 

Mean 

Maximum  3.79 

M  iniinum 

QldCO 

Man 

Maximum  

Mini  in  it  in 1.  ?."> 

Total  solids  l  spindl 

Mean ll.Oti 

Maximum 13.10 

Minimum E 


16 

Table  '.).  — Exh  a  fisted  ch  ij)8. 

Number  of  analyses 29 

Both  sugars:  Percent 

Mean 1.03 

Maximum 1. 83 

Minimum 49 

Table  A.— Clarified  juit 

Number  of  analyses  25 

Sucrose:  Percent 

Mean G.91 

Maximum B.2S 

Minimum 5.11 

Glucose  : 

Mean 2. 19 

Maximum 2.85 

Minimum 1.69 

Total  solids  (spindle)  : 

Mean 11.31 

Maximum 13.  35 

Minimum 8.  94 

Table  5.— Sirup* . 

Number  of  analyses  14 

Sucrose:  Percent. 

Mean 29.90 

Maximum 41.90 

Minimum 10.  10 

Glue 

Menu 10.06 

Maximum 16.26 

Minimum 7.52 

Total  solids  (spindle): 

Mean 46.02 

Maximum 60.40 

Minimum :>(>  20 

Table  <i. — First  sugars. 

Number  of  analyses 28 

Sucrose:  Percent 

Mean 9.">.  64 

Maximum 98.  10 

Minimum 92.  40 

T  lble  7.  -  St  con  I  -  vgars. 

Number  of  analyses 3 

Sucrose:  Per  cent 

Mean B5.  90 

Maximum 88.70 

Mini m ii m 82.30 

The  analyses  of  the  molasses,  masse  cuites,  and  some  other  prod  acts  are  nol  yel  com- 
plete, but  will  be  given  in  full  in  Bulletin  No.  18, 

The  patio  of  sucrose  bo  glucose  in  the  fresh  chips  and  diffusion  juices  for  the  season 
-  follows  : 

Mill  juice I 

Diffusion  juice 1 :  2.95 


IV 

This  would  seeru  to  show  one  of  two  things,  either  that  there  was  absolutely  no  in- 
version in  the  Lattery  or  that  the  glucose  in  the  cane  was  not  so  readily  diffused  as 
the  sucrose.  The  latter  hypothesis  seems  to  be  borne  out  by  the  analyses  of  the  ex- 
hausted chips  as  shown  in  the  following  table  of  analyses: 

Shcj-osc  and  glucose  in  juice  from  exhausted  chips  and  corresponding  diffusion  juices. 


Date. 

Exhausted  chips. 

Diffusion  juices. 

Xn. 

lucose. 

*.. 

Sucrose.     Glucose. 

Oct    8 

Oct  11 

Oct.   12 

Oct  13 

Per  c 
287 

813 

nt. 
78 
87 
63 
95 
m 

rer  cent. 
.57 
.51 
.29 

.48 
.24 

217 
259 
266 

--- 

Per  cent.    Per  cent. 
5.90 

6.  58              2.  0!) 
6.17 

5.97             1.89 
6.  02             1.  80 

Oct.  14 

Oct  15 

Oct.  18        

.27 

.43 

5.66             1.75 
312              5.66              2.02 

Am  rag 

7^                 .4(1 

5. 99              2. 09 

15449— No.  17- 


THE  SORGHUM-SUGAR  INDUSTRY  IN  KANSAS.' 


REPORT   OF   E.    B.    COWGILL. 


Office  of  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture, 

Tojieka,  Kans.,  December  17,  1887. 

While  all  attempts  to  manufacture  sugar  from  sorghum  in  Kansas 
had,  prior  to  the  present  season,  resulted  in  disappointment  and  finan- 
cial disaster,  confidence  was  not  destroyed.  The  failures  of  the  past, 
and  the  obstacles  to  success,  which  many  of  large  experience  had  de- 
clared to  be  insurmountable,  seemed  only  to  nerve  those  whose  confi- 
dence in  the  final  success  of  the  industry  remained  unshaken,  to  renewed 
and  more  determined  effort.  Congress  had  been  induced  to  provide 
means  to  aid  in  the  further  prosecution  of  experimental  work,  but  cap- 
ital was  required  to  enable  Kansas  to  avail  herself  of  the  assist;  noe 
offered.  Those  having  the  greatest  financial  interest  in  the  industry 
were  generally  discouraged,  and  individuals  having  nothing  at  risk 
could  hardly  be  expected  to  invest  in  so  unpromising  an  enterprise. 

Under  these  circumstances  the  legislature  was  appealed  to,  and  on 
.March  5,  1S87,  "an  act  to  encourage  the  manufacture  of  sugar"  was 
secured,  which  provides:  First,  that  a  bounty  of  two  cents  per  pound 
shall  be  paid  upon  all  sugar  manufactured  in  this  State  from  beets, 
sorghum,  or  other  sugar-yielding  canes  or  plants  grown  in  Kansas. 
Second,  that  no  bounty  shall  be  paid  upon  sugar  containing  less  than 
90  per  cent,  of  crystallized  sugar,  the  quantity  and  quality  to  be  deter- 
mined by  the  secretary  of  the  State  board  of  agriculture,  or  other  per- 
son appointed  by  him,  the  cost  of  such  inspection  to  be  borne  by  the 
claimant.  Third,  the  sum  of  money  so  to  be  paid  shall  not  exceed  in 
any  one  \  ear  (15,000. 

The  secretary  of  the  board,  recognizing  his  inability  to  perform  the 

duties  imposed  by  tic  act  above  referred  to,  did.  on  the  loth  day  of 
August,  1887,  by  virtue  of  the  authority  in  him  vested,  appoint  and 
com. ni.ssion  Prof.  E.  B.  Cowgill  inspector,  under  the  provisions  of  said 

act.  and  authorized  and  empowered  him  to  do  and  perform,  all  and  sin- 
gular, the  duties  as  such  inspector;  aNo  to  make  such  observation  and 

port   lias  been  corrected  by  the  author,  several  errore  having  been  over- 
looked in  i he  advance  sheel j, 
IS 


19 

investigation  of  the  means  and  methods  employed  in  the  manufacture 
of  sugar  as  the  public  interest  might  seem  to  require ;  and  to  report  to 
this  office,  as  required  by  law,  and  indicated  iu  the  instructions  trans- 
mitted with  said  commission,  as  follows  : 

State  Board  of  Agriculture, 

Topeka,  Kans.}  August  15,  1887. 

Dear  Sir  :  In  inspecting  sugar,  on  which  bounty  is  claimed  under  tbe  act  of  the 
legislature  approved  March  5,  1887,  and  in  your  observations  of  processes,  and  iu 
investigating  the  subject  of  sugar  making  in  Kansas  under  the  commission  herewith 
presented,  you  will  observe  tbe  following  instructions  : 

I.  In  accordance  with  section  2  of  said  act,  you  will  proceed  to  inspect  sugar  made 
in  Kansas  when  called  upon  by  the  manufacturers,  and, 

First,  determine  the  percentage  of  crystallized  sugar,  uucrystallized  sugar,  aud  of 
substances  not  sugar,  contained  in  each  package  presented  for  inspection. 

Second,  keep  a  full  aud  correct  record  of  the  quantities  aud  qualities  of  sugar  on 
•which  bounty  is  claimed. 

II.  In  determining  the  quality  of  sugars  you  will  make  analyses  by  the  copper 
reduction,  or  such  other  method  or  methods  as  you  may  deem  bet 

III.  You  will  weigh  and  brand  all  sugars  iuspected,  and  keep  possession  of  the 
same  until  delivered  or  cousigned  to  purchaser,  aud  you  will  keep  a  correct  record  of 
each  delivery  and  consignment:  Provided,  That  you  may  permit  delivery  and  ship- 
ments to  be  made,  during  your  absence  from  the  works,  by  some  person  to  be  desig- 
nated by  you  ,  who  shall  keep  a  full  and  correct  record  of  such  delivery  and  consign- 
ment, and  present  to  you  a  sworn  statement  of  the  same,  together  with  receipts  of 
purchaseror  transportation  companies. 

IV.  You  shall  also  take  such  sworn  testimony  of  manufacturers,  employes,  station 
agents,  or  consignees,  and  such  other  evidence  as  shall  fully  determine  the  quantity 
of  the  sugar  to  be  reported  for  payment  of  bounty. 

V.  When  the  entire  product  of  the  season  at  any  factory  has  been  inspected,  aud 
your  record  completed  as  above  directed,  you  will  transmit  to  this  office  a  sworn  state- 
ment, showing  the  quality  and  quantity  of  sugars  made  by  said  factory,  and  will  turn 
over  to  the  manufacturers  all  unsold  products. 

VI.  You  will  observe  processes  ami  experiments,  and  make  iuvestigal  ions  as  oppor- 
tunities permit,  and  report  fully  to  this  office,  to  the  end  that  the  people  of  the  State 
may  have  the  advantage  of  all  information  gained  ami  processes  developed  under  the 
encouragement  of  the  bounty  provided  in  the  act  above  referred  to. 

Yours  truly, 

Wm.  Sims, 
••<  /<//■//  StaU  Board  of  AgrU  ulture. 
Prof.  E.  B.  Cowoill, 

Stirling,  Kant. 

The  appointment  above  referred  to  was.  on  the  21st  day  of  August, 
L887,  duly  accepted  by  Professor  Oowgill,  who  filed  herein  his  oath  of 
office,  ami  at  once  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  said  appointment,  and 
who,  on  the  7th  da\  of  December,  L887,  delivered  to  the  secretary  of 

the  hoard  his  report,  as  sndi  inspector,  showing  the  quantity  and  quality 

of  sugar  contained  iu  each  of  the  packages  presented  for  inspection,  and 

on  which  bounty  was  claimed   and  is   QOW  due   under  tie-   provisions  of 

the  act  of  March  5,  L887,  above  referred  to. 

This  report  shows  842  packages,  containing  2  14,607  pounds  of  Bugar, 
to  have  been  inspected  and  branded  as  provided  bj  law.  ami  that  the 


20 

packages  so  inspected  contained  from  92  to  98  per  cent,  of  crystallized 
sugar,  respectively. 

The  amount  claimed  as  bounty,  and  due  thereon  from  the  State  treas- 
ury, is  $4,092.14,  leaving  of  the  appropriation  for  1S87,  above  referred 
to,  unclaimed,  the  sum  of  $10,307.80. 

And  afterwards,  to  wit,  on  the  15th  day  of  December,  18S7,  there  was 
filed  in  this  office,  by  Professor  Cowgill,  his  complete  and  final  report 
relating  to  the  sorghum-sugar  industry  in  Kansas,  which  is  herewith 
submitted  for  the  information  of  the  public. 

Wm.  Sims, 

Secretary. 


LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL. 

Sir:  Under  commission  from  your  office  dated  August  15,  1887,  and 
instructions  to  inspect  and  brand  sugars  made  in  this  State  during  the 
season  of  1887,  as  provided  in  the  act  of  the  legislature  approved  March 
5,1887,  and  under  your  further  instructions  to  ascertain  whether  sugar- 
making  in  Kansas  is  a  success  or  a  failure,  and  why,  I  proceeded  to  the 
Parkinson  Sugar  Works,  at  Fort  Scott,  the  only  sugar  factory  in  opera- 
tion in  the  State,  and  inspected  and  branded  the  sugar  produced,  as 
set  forth  in  detail  in  Exhibit  A.  I  also  made  a  careful  study  of  the 
processes  used,  and  submit  herewith  my  report  I  am  aware  that  much 
that  is  contained  in  the  following  pages  is  not  new  to  those  familiar 
with  the  usual  methods  of  making  sugar  5  but  realizing  that  to  most  of 
those  who  will  read  this  report  the  details  of  the  entire  subject  are  new, 
I  have  deemed  it  proper  to  describe  the  old  as  well  as  the  new  in  the 
processes  employed  in  the  manufacture  as  at  present  conducted.  I 
have  not  hoped  to  enable  persons  unfamiliar  with  (lie  subject  to  at  once 
enter  upon  the  profitable  manufacture  of  sugar,  but  to  help  those  who 
are  studying  the  subject,  and  to  place  reliable  information  on  a  most 
important  new  industry  within  the  reach  of  the  intelligent  Kansas 
public. 

1  am,  sir,  yours  respectfully, 

E.  B.  Cowgill. 

Hon.   \Ym.  Sims, 

Secretary  state  Hoard  0/ Agriculture* 


REPORT  OF  E.  B.  COWGILL 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH. 

The  sorghum  plant  was  introduced  into  the  United  States  in  1853-'54 
by  the  Patent  Office,  which  then  embraced  all  there  was  of  the  United 
States  Department  of  Agriculture.  •  Its  juice  was  known  to  be  sweet, 
and  chemists  were  not  long  in  discovering  that  it  contained  a  consider- 
able percentage  of  some  substance  giving  the  reactions  of  cane  sugar. 
The  opinion  that  the  reactions  were  due  to  cane  sugar  received  repeated 
confirmations  in  the  formation  of  true  cane-sugar  crystals  in  sirups  made 
from  sorghum.  Yet  the  small  amounts  that  were  crystallized,  compared 
with  the  amounts  present  in  the  juices  as  shown  by  the  analyses,  led 
many  to  believe  that  the  reactions  were  largely  due  to  some  other  sub- 
stance than  cane  sugar. 

EARLY   INVESTIGATIONS     OF    THE    UNITED    STATES   DEPARTMENT   OF 

AGKiri  LITRE. 

During  the  years  1S78  to  1882,  inclusive,  while  Dr.  Peter  ('oilier  was 
chief  chemist  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  much  attention  was 
given  to  the  study  of  sorghum  juict  s  from  canes  cultivated  in  the  gar- 
dens of  the  Department,  at  Washington.  Dr.  ('oilier  became  an  en- 
thusiastic believer  in  the  future  greatness  of  sorghum  as  a  BUgar-pro- 
ducing  plant,  and  the  extensive  »!  analyses  published  by  him 

attracted  much  attention  from  sugar-makers  in  the  South,  and  students 
of  the  chemistry  of  sugar  throughout  the  country. 

si  CAK    1   \<l  ORIES   ERECTED    [N  Ei  NS  vs. 

Stimulated  by  the  analytical  results  published  by  Dr.  Collier,  inter- 
ested pat  ties  erected  lai  ge  sugar  factoi  ies  ami  provided  them  with  costly 

appliances.  Hon.  John  Bennyworth  elected  one  Of  these  at  Larned.  in 
this  State.  3.  A.  Liebold  vV.  Co.  subsequent  1\  erected  one  at  (ileal  lie  ml. 
Both  of  these  factories  made. some  sugar,  both  lost  money,  and  both  quit 

the  business. 

irliog    and     Hutchinson    followed   with    factories   which   made  con- 
siderable amounts  of  merchantable  sugar  at  no  profit. 

The  factory  at  Sterling  was  erected  by  R.  M.  Sandys  &  Oo.,  ofNew 
Orleans,  who  Bought,  i»\  combining  Mr.  Sandys'  thorough  knowled 


22 

sugar  with  the  best  practical  skill  of  the  South,  to  establish  the  sorghum- 
sugar  industry  on  a  proper  basis.  For  two  seasons  this  combination 
worked  faithfully,  and  while  the  sirup  produced  paid  the  expenses  of 
the  factory,  not  a  crystal  of  sugar  was  made.  The  factory  then  in  1883 
changed  hands,  and  passed  under  the  superintendence  of  Prof.  M.  A. 
Scovell,then  of  Champaign,  111.,  who,  with  Professor  Weber,  had  worked 
out,  in  the  laboratories  of  the  Illinois  Industrial  University,  a  practical 
method  for  obtaining  sugar  from  sorghum  in  quantities  which  at  prices 
then  prevalent  would  pay  a  profit  on  the  business.  But  prices  declined, 
and  after  making  sugar  for  two  years  in  succession  the  Sterling  factory 
succumbed. 

The  Hutchinson  factory  at  first  made  no  sugar,  but  subsequently 
passed  under  the  management  of  Prof.  M.  Swenson,  who  had  success- 
fully made  sugar  in  the  laboratory  of  the  University  of  Wisconsin.  Large 
amounts  of  sugar  were  made  at  a  loss,  and  the  Hutchinson  factory  closed 
its  doors.  In  1884  Hon.  AV.  L.  Parkinson  fitted  up  a  complete  sugar 
factory  at  Ottawa,  and  for  two  years  made  sugar  at  a  loss.  Mr.  Parkin- 
son was  assisted  during  the  first  year  by  Dr.  Wilcox,  and  during  the 
second  year  by  Professor  Swenson. 

INFORMATION   GAINED. 

Much  valuable  information  was  developed  by  the  experience  in  these 
several  factories,  but  the  most  important  of  all  was  the  fact  that,  with 
the  best  crushers,  the  average  extraction  did  not  exceed  half  of  the 
sugar  contained  in  the  cane.  It  was  known  to  scientists  and  well-in- 
formed sugar-makers  in  this  country  that  the  process  of  diffusion  was 
theoretically  efficient  for  the  extraction  of  sugar  from  plant  cells,  and 
that  it  had  been  successfully  applied  by  the  beet-sugar-makers  of  Europe 
for  this  purpose. 

FURTHER  WORK   OF   THE   U.   Sv  DEPARTMENT   OF    AGRICULTURE. 

In  1883,  Prof.  H.  W.  Wiley,  chief  chemist  of  the  Department  of  Agri- 
culture, made  an  exhaustive  series  of  practical  experiments  in  the  lab- 
oratories of  the  Department  on  the  extraction  of  the  sugars  from  sorghum 
by  the  diffusion  process.  His  report  sums  up  the  results  of  his  experi- 
ments as  follows  : 

(1)  The  extractioD  of  at  least  53  per  cent,  of  the  total  sugars  present  was  secured. 
In  many  of  the  experiments,  as  will  be  seen  by  consulting  the  table,  scarcely  a  trace 
ofsngarconld  be  detected  In  the  exhausted  chips. 

(-J)  The  production  <>f  a  quantity  <»t'  m<  dads  represented  by  from  10.9  t<>  12.28  per 
cent,  of  the  weight  of  the  eane  diffused. 

This  was  secured  with  a  cane  in  which  the  total  Bngars  <li«l  not  exceed  L1.6Sper 
cent.  The  percentage  of  melada  by  this  process  "will  be  found  just  about  equal  to  the 
pei  cent,  of  total  sugars  in  the  cane. 

It  ought  to  be  greater  with  aim. re  perfect  extraction,  hut  I  am  speaking  only  of 
results  actually  obtained. 

This  yield  isjusi  about  double  that  obtained  bj  the  large  factories  at  Bio  Grande, 
Champaign,  and  othei  pla< 


23 

(3)  The  production  of  a  jnice  of  great  purity,  which  lends  itseM"  easily  to  processes 
of  depuration. 

I  consider  the  experiments,  however,  to  have  their  chief  value  in  the  fact  that  they 
will  call  the  attention  of  cane-growers  to  the  advantages  which  a  rational  system  of 
diffusion  will  have  over  pressure  in  the  extraction  of  the  saccharine  matter. 

I  hope  to  he  aide  at  the  end  of  another  season  to  report  further  progress  iu  this  in- 
teresting problem. 

In  the  present  condition  of  the  sorghum-sugar  industry,  in  which  it  has  alike  to  be 
protected  from  the  over-zeal  of  its  friends  and  the  opposition  of  its  enemies,  the  proc- 
ess of  diffusion  offers  the  most  promising  outlook  for  success.  It  therefore  seems  the 
duty  of  this  division  to  make  a  more  practical  test  of  this  process  and  on  a  larger 
scale. 

To  make  the  necessary  furtber  experiments  with  diffusion,  required 
the  expenditure  of  large  sums  of  money.  As  already  shown,  the  pri- 
vate companies  had  lost  heavily.  They  were  utterably  unable  to  com- 
plete the  experiments  so  hopefully  begun  by  the  Department  of  Agri- 
culture. 

THE   AID   OF   CONGRESS   SOLICITED. 

At  this  crisis  Hon.  W.  L.  Parkinson  and  Mr.  Alfred  Taylor,  of  Ot- 
tawa, Kans.,  after  consulting  with  others  interested  in  the  then  lan- 
guishing sorghum-sugar  industry,  went  to  Washington  to  call  the  atten- 
tion of  Congress  to  the  important  results  promised  for  the  diffusion 
process,  and  to  show  that,  without  the  aid  of  an  appropriation,  all  that 
had  hitherto  been  accomplished  would  be  practically  lost.  The  Kansas 
delegation  in  Congress  became  interested.  Senator  Plumb  made  a 
thorough  study  of  the  entire  subject,  and,  with  the  foresight  of  states- 
manship, gave  his  energies  to  the  work  of  securing  an  appropriation  of 
$50,000  for  the  development  of  the  sugar  industry.  This  appropriation 
was  made  during  the  last  days  of  the  BessioD  of  1884.  The  season  was 
too  far  advanced  to  erect  and  use  the  diffusion  apparatus  with  sorghum 
cane,  and  it  was,  by  the  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  sent  to  Louisi- 
ana, and  sorghum  got  no  benefit  from  this  first  appropriation. 

ANOTHER  APPROPRIATION. 

In  L885,  Senator  Plumb,  at  the  request  of  Judge  Parkinson.  Professoi 
Bwenson,  and  others,  again  labored  for  an  appropriation  for  experiments 
with  diffusion.  It  was  shown  l>\  Judge  Parkinson,  and  all  others  in- 
terested in  thf  sorghum  sugar  industry,  that  this  w  as  I  he  only  hope  for 
Buccess.  Fifty  thousand  dollars  for  this  purpose  was  again  added  to 
the  agricultural  appropriation  bill,  on  the  amendment  of  Senator  Plumb. 
This  was  expended  at  Ottawa,  Kans.,  and   in   Louisiana.    The  report 

of  tin-  work  at  Ottawa  closes  ftS  follOWSJ 

(1)  h\  tii-'  prooeM  of  diffusion  08  i »«•  i  cent,  of  the  sugar  in  the  oanc  was  extracted, 
ami  the  yield  was  folly  doable  that  obtained  in  the  ordinary  way. 

(•J)  The  difflonltiee  to  be  oyeroome  in  the  application  of  difftu  whollj  mo- 

ohanioal.     With  the  apparatus  on  hand  the  following  changes  are  necessary  in  < 
to  be  able  to  work  120  tons  per  daj  I      diffusion  ceils  should  be  made  tn 


24 

large  as  they  now  are;  that  is,  of  130  cubic  feet  capacity,  (b)  The  opening  through 
which  the  chips  are  discharged  should  bo  made  as  marly  as  possible  of  the  same  area 
as  a  horizontal  cross-sectiou  of  the  cell,  (c)  The  forced  feed  of  the  cutters  requires 
a  few  miuor  changes  in  order  to  prevent  choking,  (d)  The  apparatus  for  delivering 
the  chips  to  the  cells  should  be  remodeled  so  as  to  dispense  with  the  labor  of  one  man. 

(3)  The  process  of  carbonatation  for  the  purification  of  the  juice  is  the  only  method 
which  will  give  a  limpid  juice  with  a  minimum  of  waste  and  a  maximum  of  purity. 

(4)  By  a  proper  combination  of  diffusion  and  carbonatation  the  experiments  have 
demonstrated  that  fully  95  per  cent,  of  the  sugar  in  the  cane  can  be  placed  on  the 
market  either  as  dry  sugar  or  molasses. 

(5)  It  is  highly  important  that  the  Department  complete  the  experiments  so  suc- 
cessfully inaugurated  by  making  the  changes  in  the  machinery  mentioned  above  and 
by  the  erection  of  a  complete  carbonatation  outfit. 

Respectfully, 

H.  W.  Wiley,  Chemist. 

But  while  so  much  had  been  accomplished  by  the  joint  efforts  of  the 
United  States  Department  of  Agriculture  and  the  Ottawa  company. 
the  financial  results  were  so  disastrous  to  the  company  as  to  leave  them 
utterly  unable  to  further  co-operate  with  the  Government  in  the  prose- 
cution of  the  work. 

THE  FORT   SCOTT   COMPANY   ORGANIZED. 

At  this  juncture  Judge  Parkinson  saw  that  he  must  either  submit  to 
defeat  or  organize  a  new  company  to  co  operate  with  the  Department 
of  Agriculture,  should  Congress  be  wise  enough  to  make  another  ap- 
propriation. In  this  straight  he  went  to  Fort  Scott  and  organized  the 
Parkinson  Sugar  Company,  which  is  now  composed  as  follows:  J.  1). 
Hill,  president;  Eli  Kearnes,  vice-president;  M.  Swenson,  secretary 
and  chemist;  W.  Chenault,  treasurer;  W.  L.  Parkinson,  manager;  C. 
V.  Drake,  .V.  W.  Walburn,  W.  W.  Pusey,  J.  W.  Converse,  ami  David 
Richards. 

Taking  up  the  work  where  all  others  had  failed,  this  company  has 
taken  a  full  share  of  the  responsibilities  and  losses,  until  it  has  at  last 
seen  the  Northern  sugar  industry  made  a  financial  success. 

THE    DOUSE   OF    REPRESENTATIVES    HAKES  AN   APPROPRIATION. 

The  report  of  L885  showed  such  favorable  results  that  in  L886  the 
House  made  an  appropriation  of  (94,000,  to  be  used  in  Louisiana,  New 
Jersey,  and  Kansas.  A  new  battery  and  complete  carbonatation  appa- 
ratus were  erected  at  Fort  Scott.  About  $60,000  of  the  appropriation 
was  expended  here  in  experiments  in  diffusion  and  carbonatation. 

In  his  report  Dr.  Wiley  arrived  at  the  following  conclusions : 

Iii  a  general  review  of  the  work, the  most  important  point  suggested  is  the  abso- 
lute failure  of  the  experiments  to  demonstrate  the  commercial  practicability  of  manu- 
facturing sorglium  sugar.  The  causes  of  this  failure  bave  been  pointed  out  In  the 
preceding  pages,  and  it  will  onlj  be  necessary  new  t<>  reoapil alate  them.    They  were  •' 

(1)  Defective  machinery  for  outting  the  canes  and  for  elevating  and  oleaning  the 
chips  and  for  removing  the  exhausted  chips. 


25 

(2)  The  deterioration  of  the  caue  due  to  much  of  it  becoming  over-ripe,  but  chiefly 
id  the  fact  that  much  time  would  generally  elapse  after  the  canes  were  cut  before 
they  reached  the  diffusion  battery.  The  heavy  frost  which  came  the  first  of  October 
also  injured  the  cane  somewhat,  but  not  until  ten  days  or  two  weeks  after  it  oc- 
curred. 

(3)  The  deteriorated  cane  caused  a  considerable  inversion  of  the  sucrose  in  the  bat- 
tery, an  inversion  which  was  increased  by  the  delay  in  furnishing  chips,  thu> 

ing  the  chips  in  the  battery  to  remain  exposed  under  pressure  for  a  much  longer  time 
than  was  necessary.  The  mean  time  required  for  diffusing  one  cell  was  twenty-one 
minutes,  three  times  as  long  as  it  should  have  been. 

(4)  The  process  of  carbonatation,  as  employed,  secured  a  maximum  yield  of  sugar, 
but  failed  to  make  a  molasses  which  was  marketable.  This  trouble  arose  from  the 
small  quantity  of  lime  remaining  in  the  filtered  juices,  causing  a  blackening  of  the 
sirup  on  concentration,  and  the  failure  of  the  cleaning  apparatus  to  properly  pre- 
pare the  chips  for  diffusion. 

THE   COMMISSIONER   OF   AGRICULTURE   DISCOURAGED. 

After  the  expenditure  of  so  much  money,  and  the  publication  of  so 
discouraging  a  report  as  that  of  188G,  the  Commissioner  of  Agriculture 
declined  to  ask  for  further  appropriations.*  Bat  Senator  Plumb  again 
came  to  the  rescue,  and,  by  a  faithful  presentation  of  the  possibilities 
of  the  case,  induced  Congress  to  make  an  appropriation  of  $50,000,  of 
which  s'iMjOOO  was  apportioned  to  Louisiana.  $6,000  to  JJio  Grande,  N*. 
J.,  and  $20,000  to  Fort  Scott,  Kans.f 

SUCCESS  AT   LAST. 

This  year  the  Port  Bcotl  management  made  careful  selection  of  essen- 
tial parts  of  die  processes  already  used,  omitted  non-essential  and  cum- 
brous processes,  availed  themselves  Of  all  the  experience  of  the  past  in 
this  country,  and  secured  a  fresh  infusion  of  experience  from  the  beet- 
sugar  factories  of  Germany,  and  attained  the  success  which  anally 
places  sorghnm  sugar-making  among  the  profitable  industries  of  the 
country. 

STATE  ENOOURAGEMEN  I. 

The  Stale  of  Kansas  had,  by  all  reports,  been  indicated  as  the  center 
Of  the  BOrghum-SUgar  industry,  when  it  should  be  developed.  Kansas 
Statesmen  in  the   legislature,  as  early  as    L885,  conceded    that  (he  State 

should  assist  in  the  development  of  the  new  industry.  In  thatyear 
lion.  B.  P.  Bond,  member  of  the  house  from  Bice  County,  prepared  ami 

Introduced  a  bill  providing  for  a  bounty  of  \.\  cents  per  pound,  to  be 
paid  out  of  the  State  treasury,  on  all   sugar  manufactured  in  the  State 

e  non-action  <>t  the  Commissioner  la  misunderstood  bj  Mr.  Cowgill.     When  t  h«- 

Bouse  Committee  on  Agriculture  made  the  appropriation  of  the  preceding  year  it  was 

I  that  no  subsequent  grant  should  i»«'  demanded.     It  \\;is  in  harmony  with  this 

agreement  and  not  for  the  reasons  stated  that  the  Commissioner  did  ool  ask  foi  .k 

further  appropriation. 

I  The  distribution  of  the  money  to  the  variona  atations  h  'as  left  t<»  t  he  dlaoretion  of 
the  Commissioner,  ami  was  not  mentioned  in  the  biU. 


26 

for  five  years.  The  bill  awakened  a  great  deal  of  enthusiasm,  and,  at 
the  same  time,  a  factious  opposition,  and  was  lost.  At  the  session  of 
1887  Senator  Bawden,  of  Bourbon  County,  introduced  a  bill  providing 
for  a  bounty  of  2  cents  per  pound,  to  be  paid  upon  all  sugar  manufact- 
ured in  the  State  for  five  years,  the  maximum  amount  to  be  paid  in  any 
year  being  limited  to  815,000.    This  bill  became  a  law. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  present  condition  of  the  sorghum-sugar 
industry  is  due  to  private  enterprise,  aided  by  Government  and  State 
appropriations,  and  directed  by  scientific  and  practical  skill. 

COMMISSIONERS    OF  AGRICULTURE    LE    DUC,   LORING,   AND    COLMAN. 

It  should  be  mentioned  in  this  connection  that  United  States  Com- 
missioner of  Agriculture  Le  Due  extended  a  strong  and  friendly  hand 
to  the  sorghum  sugar  industry  during  his  term  of  office.  His  succes- 
sor. Commissioner  Loring,  had  the  work  continued  by  Professor  Wiley, 
but  was  himself  skeptical  as  to  results.  The  present  Commissioner, 
Hon.  Xorman  J.  Colman,  had  been  an  advocate  of  sorghum  for  many 
years  before  his  accession  to  office,  and  had  probably  written  and  pub- 
lished more  on  the  subject  than  any  other  man  in  the  United  States. 
Every  friend  of  the  struggling  industry  was  gratified  at  his  appoint- 
ment. He  has  extended  all  the  aid  at  his  command,  and  may  justly 
feel  proud  of  the  attainment  of  the  present  success  under  his  adminis- 
tration of  the  Department  of  Agriculture. 

THE  PRESENT   STATE   OF  THE   INDUSTRY. 

The  experiments  in  making  sugar  from  sorghum,  which,  as  above 
shown,  have  been  in  progress  for  several  years  at  the  expense  of  private 
capital  and  the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture,  have  this 
year  reached  so  favorable  results  as  to  place  the  manufacture  of  sor- 
ghum sugar  on  the  basis  of  a  profitable  business,  as  will  be  seen  by  the 
report  to  his  company  of  Hon.  W.  L.  Parkinson,  manager  of  the  Fort 
Scott  works. 

The  success  has  been  due  to,  first,  the  almost  complete  extraction  of 
the  sugars  from  the  cane  by  the  diffusion  process;  second,  the  prompt 
and  proper  treatment  of  the  juice  in  defecating  and  evaporating;  third, 
the  efficient  manner  in  which  the  sugar  wTas  boiled  to  grain  in  the  strike- 
pan.  That  these  results  may  be  duplicated  and  improved  upon  will  be 
readily  understood  from  the  showing  made  in  Mr.  Parkinson's  report, 
and  the  descriptions  of  methods  and  processes  used,  and  the  discussion 
of  the  same  as  they  appear  in  the  subsequent  pages  of  this  paper. 

RBPOBX  OF   w.    I,.    PABKINSON, 

in  the  Board  of  Dlreoton  Parkinson  Sugar  Company: 

hi  mi  s:  I  i.  ipeetfally  submit  for  yonr  consideration  the  following  report  of 
the  operations  of  the  irorki  of  your  company  foi  the  season  just  closing ! 

It  Li  provided  in  onreontraot  with  the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture 
th.it  certain  experiments  in  sugar-making  shall  be  made  bj  the  Department  with  cer- 
tain machinery  of  Its  own  and  at  its  own  expense,  using  the  company's  plant  and 


27 

machinery.  Many  of  those  experiments  have  been  so  closely  allied  to  and  dovetailed 
into  the  regular  work  of  the  factory  that  it  is  very  difficult,  if  not  wholly  impossible, 
to  clearly  separate  the  cost  of  the  experimental  work  from  that  of  the  general  opera- 
tion of  the  factory  during  the  season.  At  the  same  time  it  is  highly  important  that 
you  know  as  precisely  as  possible  the  cost  of  working  and  the  profit  or  loss  on  each 
ton  of  cane  handled. 

As  you  are  aware,  the  crop  of  cane  contracted  for  last  spring  was  very  much  less  than 
the  capacity  of  our  works  to  consume.  It  was  considered  prudent  to  limit  our  dan- 
ger from  loss,  by  reason  of  the  experimental  nature  of  the  work,  and  at  the  same  time 
to  have  sufficient  cane  to  determine  thoroughly  the  value  of  the  work  on  a  practical 
manufacturing  basis.  This  has  been  done,  though  it  is  now  apparent  that  had  the 
crop  been  twice  as  large,  the  expenses  for  working  it  would  have  been  relatively  much 
less.  Indeed,  a  crop  double  the  size  of  the  one  just  finished  could  have  been  worked 
in  about  the  same  time,  and  at  a  comparatively  trifling  additional  expense  The 
plans,  methods,  and  processes  which  have  made  the  work  of  the  season  successful  be- 
yond our  most  sanguine  expectations,  were  adopted  early  in  the  season,  so  that  the 
risks  incident  to  experiments  taken  into  account  when  contracting  for  a  crop  were 
reduced  to  the  minimum.  The  fact  that  at  least  a  portion  of  these  highly  successful 
processes  were  not  tried  and  adopted  last  season  was  no  fault  of  your  company,  nor 
of  any  one  connected  with  this  season's  work. 

To  arrive  at  the  cost  per  ton  of  cane  worked,  let  us  take  the  working  of  a  single 
average  day,  when  in  full  operation,  and  apart  from  the  cost  of  experiments  referred 
to. 

The  capacity  of  our  factory,  aside  from  deficient  centrifugals,  is  limited  to  the  ca- 
pacity of  the  diffusion  battery.  Working  twenty-two  hours  per  day,  this  battery  can 
comfortably  handle  135  tons  of  chips,  or  cleaned  cane.  This  represents  a  capacity  of 
field  cane,  or  cane  with  seed  tops  and  blades,  of  about  170  tons.  To  handle  this,  aside 
from  curing  and  handling  seed,  cost  us  per  day  of  twenty-two  hours,  when  running 
regularly,  as  follows: 

1  weighmaster,  at  $2 $2. 00 

1  team,  pulling  cane  onto  storage  racks,  at  $'2.50 2.50 

5  men,  unloading  and  getting  cane  to  cutters,  22  hours,  at  12£  cents 13.75 

1  man,  cutting  machine,  at  15  cents 3.30 

1  man,  cleaning  machine,  at  12£  cents 2.75 

1  man,  grinder,  etc.,  at  15  cents 3.30 

1  man,  oiler,  at  15  cents 3.30 

3  men,  diffusion  battery,  1  at  car  and  2  above,  at  12J  cents , 8.  2.") 

1  man,  diffusion  battery,  director  of  battery,  at  20  cuts 4.40 

2  men,  defecating,  at  15  cents 6.60 

2  men,  double  effects,  at  15  cents 0.60 

1  man,  strike-pan,  at $5 5.00 

1  man,  hot  room,  at  l.'r  cents 2.75 

1  man,  banc  lei-.  ,(t  12]  cents 2.75 

2  men,  centrifugals,  at   15  cents 

1  man,  machinist,  at  $3 3.00 

2  men,  engineers,  ai  20  cents 4.40 

5  men,  firemen,  at   15  cents 

2  men,  roustabouts,  at  1 2 |  cents 5.50 

1  man,  water  ln.y_ 

1  man,  night  watch 1.50 

2  men,  foremen,  

Total  cost  of  labor 111.  75 

Oil,  etc 

Coal,  23  to  .tint,  mts 

•i i:*4.7i 


28 

This  makes  the  cost  of  working  a  ton  of  cleaned  cane,  with  a  factory  of  the  capac- 
ity of  ours,  about  $1  per  ton  for  labor  and  fuel,  or  90  cents  per  ton  of  field  cane.  The 
cost  per  ton  for  salaries,  insurance,  wear  and  tear,  etc.,  must  depend,  of  course,  not 
only  upon  the  size  of  the  salaries  and  other  general  expenses.  Imt  the  number  of  tons 
worked.  This  plant,  rated  as  above,  is  capable,  in  seventy  days,  of  working  9,450 
tons  of  chips,  or  11,900  tons  of  field  cane.  There  is  necessarily  considerable  expense  in 
preparing  for  the  season's  work,  and  again  in  closing  up.  Allowing  liberally  fortius 
and  for  the  proper  management  and  control  of  the  works,  we  may  still  bring  our  total 
expenses,  outside  the  cost  of  labor  and  fuel,  at  -SI  per  ton  upon  the  above  basis.  Add 
to  this  the  cost  of  labor  and  fuel,  and  we  have  $2  per  ton  as  the  total  cost  per  ton  of 
working  cleaned  cane.  These  figures  are  fully  verified  by  our  pay-rolls,  coal  bills, 
and  other  expenses  while  working  to  our  capacity  during  the  season,  separated  from 
expenditures  in  the  completion  and  changing  of  machinery  directly  connected  with 
experiments  made.  And  to  work  a  factory  with  a  capacity  at  least  one-half  greater 
than  this  one  would  require  very  little  additional  expense  except  in  the  matter  of 
fuel,  and  that  would  be  relatively  less.  It  seems  to  me  a  very  conservative  basis, 
with  »  factory  of  the  capacity  of  ours,  to  place  the  actual  cost  of  manafacture 
per  ton  of  cane;  and  with  such  a  factory  as  I  have  indicated,  and  with  a  season  of, 
Bay,  Beventy  days,  it  is  safe  to  place  the  cost  of  manufacture  at  considerably  less  than 
that  sum.  It  requires  but  little  figuring  upon  this  basis,  and  with  the  cost  of  cane  at 
$2  per  ton,  and  the  yield  of  cane  and  product  secured  this  year,  to  show  that  we  have 
developed  a  business  of  great  interest  and  profit  to  our  State  and  Nation. 

To  run  a  factory  at  the  maximum  profit  it  must  be  operated  constantly  during  the 
working  season.  The  loss  this  season  by  reason  of  the  irregular  operation  of  the  fac- 
tory for  want  of  sufficient  cane  was  very  consideraole.  During  the  whole  season  the 
factory  was  operated  but  three  whole  days  of  twenty-two  hours  each.  Some  idea  oi 
the  loss  from  this  source  may  be  gathered  from  the  fact  that  not  less  than  '2  tons  of 
chips  were  lost  at  each  break  in  the  operation  of  the  diffusion  battery.  Sixty-five 
such  breaks  or  stoppages  were  made  while  running  for  sugar.  With  a  larger  crop  of 
cane  and  better  arrangements  for  delivery  upon  the  part  of  the  larger  contractors, 

but  little  or  no  difficulty  from  this  source  need  be  apprehended  in  the  future. 

Tons. 

Total  cane  bought 3,840 

Total  seed  tops  bought '437 

Total  field  cane 4/277 

This  represents  the  crop,  less  about  30  t^us  of  seed  tops  yet  to  come  in,  from  about 
450  acres  of  land.  There  were  something  over  500  acres  planted.  Some  of  it  failed 
to  come  at  all,  some  "fell  upon  the  rocky  places,  where  they  had  not  much  earth,  and 
when  the  sun  was  risen  they  were  BCOrohed  ;"  so  that,  as  nearly  as  We  can  estimate, 
about  450  acres   of  cane  were  actually  harvested  and  delivered  at    the  works.     This 

would  make  I  he  a\  erage  yield  of  cane  9^  tons  per  sore,  or  |19  per  acre  in  dollars  and 
cents.  1  beg.  to  observe,  in  this  connection,  that  the  present  was  the  lightest  in  ton- 
nage of  the  five  successive  orops  I  have  handled,  it  w  as  probably  also  the  poorest  in 
orystallizable  sugar,  covering  the  same  period  of  time,  in  the  state.  It  may  not  be 
amiss  to  observe,  too,  in  this  connection,  that  a  very  commonly  accepted  theory,  that 
"the  dryer  the  weather  the  sweeter  the  cane,"  is  nol  verified  by  my  experience. 

of  the  total  cane  worked,  162  tons  were  consumed  in  experiments  with  our  cutters 
and  cleaning  machinery  before  the  cane  was  ripe  enough  for  nse  for  either  strap  or 
No  product  whatever,  not  even  seed,  was  saved  from  this,  nor  from  in  tons 
additional  bronght  in  since  the  factory  closed  down.  About  300  tons  of  mostly  down 
and  inferior  cane  was  worked  m  the  early  part  of  the  season  on  the  crushers,  and 
without  diffusion.  The  only  product  from  this  was  molasses,  and  of  that  but  a  small 
quantity.    About  375  tons  were  also  worked  for  molasses  onlj  on  the  diffusion  bat  tery. 

This,   with  the  exception  <>('  BO  tons  at   the  close  of  the  season,  and  w  Inch  came  in  too 

Irregularly  to  be  worked  for  sugar,  was  worked  before  the  sugar  season  began,  and 


29 

comprised  such  down  patches  and  poorerquality  of  cane  as  could  be  gathered,  mainly 

on  the  lands  belonging  to  the  company.      It  was  an  open  question  whether  very  poor 

cane  could  be  worked  successfully,  even  for  sirups,  on  a  diffusion  battery.     Nothing 

in  this  direction  had  hitherto  been  attempted.     The  total  yield  of  molasses  from  this 

source,  and  from  which  no  sugar  has  been  taken,  is  4,157 gallons.     From  this  are  sold 

3,157  gallons,  for  $7*20.71  net.     The  remaining  1,000  gallons  are  still  on  hand,  and  are 

worth  25  cents  per  gallon. 

Tons. 
Deducting  from  total  tonnage,  less  seed 3,840 

Amount  not  worked  for  sugar 

We  have  total  cane  and  leaves  for  sugar 2,  943 

The  total  number  of  diffusion  cells  worked  for  sugar  is  "2,043.  The  weight  of  a  cell 
of  chips  is  1,975  pounds.  With  this  as  a  basis  there  was  worked  by  diffusion  for  sugar 
2,010  tons  of  clean  cane  as  it  entered  the  cells.  Deducting  this  from  '2.943  tons*  of 
cane,  with  leaves  and  blades,  and  we  have  333  tons  of  leaves  and  blades.  The  latter 
are  to  us  a  dead  loss.  A  small  portion  has  been  hauled  away  by  farmers  for  feed,  but 
the  bulk  of  this  large  tonnage  is  now  fit  only  for  manure.  This  waste  was  consider- 
ably increased  by  the  failure  of  our  separating  machines,  especially  in  the  early  part 
of  the  season,  to  properly  discharge  their  duties.  This  whole  subject  was  new  :  ma- 
chines had  to  be  devised,  and  their  adjustment,  which  is  not  yet  perfect,  caused  con- 
siderable loss  of  cane.  The  weight  of  blades  and  leaves  will  not  be  far  from  li»  per 
c<  nt.  of  held  cane.  For  either  feed  or  fuel,  especially  where  the  latter  is  much  of  an 
object,  the  blades  can  be  utilized  so  as  to  at  least  cover  their  own  cost.  At  present 
we  figure  the  loss  from  this  source  to  seed  account. 

SEED. 

There  have  been  delivered  of  seed  tops  437  tons.  As  nearly  as  we  can  estimate, 
there  are  yet  to  be  delivered  30  tons,  making  in  all  407  tons.  From  the  best  calcula- 
tions we  can  make,  and  judging  from  our  experience  in  former  years,  Beed  yields 
about  ?<»  per  cent,  of  the  weight  of  heads,  as  boughtin  over  the  scales,  in  cleaned 
seed.  Putting  it  at  60  per  cent.,  and  with  56  pounds  to  the  bushel,  we  shall  have 
L0,000  bushels  of  cleaned  seed.  A  portion  of  this,  estimated  at  1,000  bushels,  has,  at 
considerable  additional  expense,  been  picked  over  by  hand,  head  by  head,  tied  into 
small  bundh  s,  and  hung  up  in  the  dry.  This  has  been  done  to  provide  ourselves  with 
pure  seed  of  the  different  varieties  for  planting,  and  to  supply  a  probable  want  in  the 
same  direction  from  others.  For  this  hand-picked  seed  weexpeel  to  get  oot  less  than 
|2  per  bushel.  The  c«>st  of  handling  the  seed  has  not  been  kept  separate  from  the 
OOSl  of  running  the  factory.  The  total  cost  of  curing,  stacking,  and  hand-picking 
w  ill  not  be  far  from  |700,  fully  |200  of  \\  huh  has  been  expended  iii  securing  pure  and 
perfectly  cured  seed  for  ourselves  ami  others  willing  to  pay  the  extra  price,  Po 
thrash  and  prepare  t  he  seed  for  market  the  seed  will  cost  about  6  cents  per  bushel 
additional.  [  estimate  that  we  shall  get  for  our  seed  orop  $7,000  net.  There  will  be 
left  of  seed  tops,  aftei  thrashing,  folly  100  tons.     These  aro  good  for  feed  or  fuel. 


The  l)ii  Ik  o  I'  our  sirups  are  stoi..  I  iniIk    large  ei  si.- m  or  cellar  under  the  wait  house. 

The  amount  on  hand  we  estimate  at  50,000  gallons.  This  inoludes  (he  whole  crop, 
except  the  3,157  gallons  sold  in  early  part  of  season,  (it'  this  we  have  sold,  to  be 
delivered  within  thirty  days,  and  one  oai  load  of  which  has  already  goue,  250  barrels, 
or  about  12,500  gallons,  at  ■  price  that  will  net  us  here  80  cents.  This  sale  includes 
the  bulb  of  our  poorest  Miu|^.  I  think  we  can  safeh  estimate  our  .sirup  product, 
exclusive  of  package  dering  the  oondition  of  our  (actorj  for  work 

in  cold  weather,  and  the  limited  capacity  of  our  centrifugal  machinery,  1  reoommenc| 
their  sale,  without  boiling,  fortecondf}, 


30 

SUGAR. 

Of  our  sugar  product,  the  Sta^e  iDspector,  Prof.  E.  B.  Cowgill,  has  weighed  and 
certified  for  State  bounty  206,326  pounds.  We  have  now  in  addition  and  ready  for 
inspection  22,500  pounds.  The  centrifugals  are  still  running.  We  estimate  that  we 
shall  still  have,  exclusive  of  seconds,  from  7,000  to  10,000  pounds,  or,  in  all,  235,826 
pouuds.  This,  at  5|  cents,  present  price  to  jobbers,  will  produce  us  $13,559.98.  To 
this  add  the  State  bounty  of  2  cents  per  pound,  and  wo  have  for  onr  total  sugar 
product  817,276.50. 

TOTAL  PRODUCT  OF   THE   SEASON. 

"Sugar,  235,826  pounds,  at  5f  cents $13, 559. 98 

Sugar,  State  bounty,  at  2  cents 4,716.52 

17, 276. 50 

Sirups,  51,000  gallons  (estimated),  at  20  cents 10, 200.  00 

Seed  (estimated) 7,000.00 

Value  of  total  product 34,476.50 

TOTAL   COST. 

Cane,  3,840  tons,  at  $2 7, 680.  00 

Seed,  967  tons,  at  $2 1,934.00 

9, 614.  00 
Labor  bill  from  August  15  to  October  15,  including  labor  for  Department 

experiments 5,  737. 16 

Coal,  including  all  experiments 1,395.  77 

Salaries,  etc 3, 500. 00 

Insurance,  sundries,  etc , 1,500.  00 

Total 21,746.93 

Total  value 34,476.50 

Total  cost 21,246.93 

Net -. 13,229.57 

Of  the  above  labor  bill,  there  has  been  paid— 

By  ilie  Department 2,575.21 

By  the  company 3,  lt>  1.  79 

Of  the  above  coal  bill,  there  has  been  paid— 

By  the  Department 324.00 

By  the  company 1,071.  77 

<  )f  the  above  cane  account,  there  h;i^  been  paid — 

By  the  Department  324.00 

By  the  company 9,290.00 

Or,  of  the  above  expenditures  th<    Department  baa  paid  $3,234.75.     Bills  are  now 

pending  for  $3,3  0,  making  in  all  $6V 534. 75,  reducing  our  total  cost  from  $21,746.93  to 

$15,212. 18,  and  leaving  a  profit  from  the  season's  work  of  $19,76 1.32.     h  w  ill  thus  be 

seen  that  in  the  working  of  the  crop,  including  cane  for  experimental  purposes,  the 

rtment  of  Agrionlture  has  paid  or  been  charged  with  $6,534.75.    This  includes 

"The  amount  of  sugar  branded  waa  234,607  pounds.  The  number  of  cells  full  of 
cane  from  which  the  juice  was  boiled  for  sugar  waa  2,501,  according  to  the  record  of 
the  sugar-boiler.— E.  r>.  c. 


31 

the  labor  for  the  various  experiments,  the  changing  aud  erection  of  new  machinery 
for  the  trial  of  the  same,  and  the  salaries  and  wages  of  most  of  the  high-priced  help, 
and  which,  in  the  practical  operation  of  a  factory,  will  not  be  required. 
Respectfully  submitted. 

W.  L.  Parkinson, 

Manager. 
Fort  Scott,  Kans.,  October  28,  1887. 

OUTLINE   OF   THE  PROCESSES  OF  SUGAR-MAKING. 

As  dow  developed,  the  processes  of  making  sugar  from  sorghum  are" 
as  follows : 

First,  The  topped  cane  is  delivered  at  the  factory  by  the  farmers  who 
grow  it. 

Second,  The  cane  is  cut  by  a  machine  into  pieces  about  1^  inches  long. 

Third,  The  leaves  and  sheaths  are  separated  from  the  cut  cane  by  fan- 
ning mills. 

Fourth,  The  cleaned  cane  is  cut  into  fine  bits  called  chips. 

Fifth,  The  chips  are  placed  in  iron  tanks,  and  the  sugar  "diffused" — 
soaked  out  with  hot  water. 

Sixth,  The  juice  obtained  by  diffusion  has  its  acids  nearly  or  quite 
neutralized  with  milk  of  lime,  aud  is  heated  and  skimmed. 

Seventh,  The  defecated  or  clarified  juice  is  boiled  to  a  semi-sirup  iu 
vacuum  pans. 

Eighth,  The  semi-sirup  is  boiled  "to  grain"  in  a  high  vacuum  in  the 
"strike-pan." 

Ninth,  The  mixture  of  sugar  and  molasses  from  the  strike-pan  is 
passed  through  a  mixing  machine  into  centrifugal  machines,  which 
throw  out  the  molasses  and  retain  the  sugar. 

DETAILS  OF   THE  PROCESSES  OF   SUGAR-MAKING. 

An  account  of  the  processes  of  sugar-making  ought  doubtless  to  be- 
gin with  the  planting  and  cultivation,  growth  and  ripening,  of  the  cane, 
for  it  is  here  thai  the  sugar  is  made.  No  known  processes  of  science 
or  art,  save  those  of  plant  growth,  produce  the  peculiar  combination  of 

carbon  with   the  elements  of  water  which  we  call  sugar.      Not   only  is 

this  true,  but  the  chemist  utterly  fails  in  every  attempt  to  bo  modify 

existing  similar  combinations  Of  these  elements  as  to  produce  cane 
sugar.  It  will  he  interesting  here  to  note  t  hree  substances  of  nearly 
the  same  composition,  viz  :  Starch,  sucrose  or  cane  BUgar,  ami  gluCOSC 
or  grape  sugar.  Their  compositions  are  much  alike,  ami  mav  be  Stated 
as  follows  : 

.  bOB.         Wat.  i  . 


oh* v:  io 

I."  n 

l  'J  l  •_■ 


i  hemic*]  formula  i  omponnd  - 

*>!-:. i!   CtHitOi    In  whi  nta  an  equivalent  of  oarbon,  H  of  hydrogen  and  Oof  ox] 

r.iuis Blent  of  irater, 


32 

The  chemist  produces  glucose,  or  grape  sugar,  from  eitber  starch  or 
sugar  by  treatment  with  acid,  but  all  attempts  have  failed  to  produce 
cane  sugar  from  either  starch  or  grape  sugar. 

THE  FARMEB  THE  REAL  SUGAR-MAKER. 

The  farmer  then,  or  perhaps  more  accurately  the  power  which  impels 
the  plant  to  select  and  combine  in  proper  form  and  proportions  the 
three  elements,  carbon,  hydrogen,  and  oxygen,  is  the  real  sugar  maker. 
All  after  processes  are  merely  devices  for  separating  the  sugar  from  the 
other  substances  with  which  it  grows. 

HOW    IS   THE   SUGAR  FORMED   IN  THE   OANE  1 

The  process  of  the  formation  of  sugar  in  the  cane  is  not  fully  deter- 
mined ;  but  analyses  of  canes  made  at  different  stages  of  growth  show 
that  the  sap  of  growing  cane  contains  a  soluble  substance  having  a 
composition  and  giving  reactions  similar  to  starch.  As  maturity  ap- 
proaches, grape  sugar  is  also  found  in  the  juice.  A  further  advance 
towards  maturity  discloses  cane  sugar  with  the  other  substances,  and 
at  full  maturity  perfect  canes  contain  much  cane  sugar  and  little  grape 
sogar  and  starchy  matter. 

In  sweet  fruits  the  change  from  grape  sugar  to  cane  sugar  does  not 
take  place,  or  takes  place  but  sparingly.  The  grape  sugar  is  very  sweet, 
however. 

INVERSION   OR  CHANGE   OF  CANE   SUGAR   INTO   GRAPE   SUGAR. 

Cane  sugar,  called  also  sucrose  or  crystallizable  sugar,  when  in  dilute 
solution,  is  changed  very  readily  into  grape  sugar  or  glucose,  a  substance 
which  is  much  more  difficult  than  cane  sugar  to  Crystallize.  Tins 
change,  called  inversion,  takes  place  in  overripe  canes;  it  sets  in  very 
soon  after  cutting  in  any  cane  during  warm  weather;  it  occurs  in  cane 
which  has  been  injured  by  blowing  down  or  by  insects  or  by  frost, 
and  it  probably  occurs  in  cane  which  takes  a  second  growth  alter  nearly 
or  quite  reaching  maturity. 

inversion  will  be  further  considered  in  another  place. 

Tin:   PARMER'S   PART    MOST    [MPORTANT   OF   ALL. 

Since  sugar  Is  produced  only  by  nature's  processes  of  growth  and  is 
easily   l08t  through  inversion,  it  is  evident  that  the  tanner's  part  in  the 

process  of  sugar-making  is  first  and  most  important  of  all.  It  is  a  sub- 
ject which  invites  most  carefnl,  scientific,  and  practical  attention,  and 
will  be  further  considered  under  the  subject  "  improving  the  cane." 

It  is  apparent  from  what  has  already  been  said,  that  to  insure  a  suc- 
cessful OUtCOme  from  the  Operations  Of  the  factory,  the  cane  must  be  so 
planted,  cultivated,  and   matured   as  to  make  the  sugar  in   its  juice: 


33 

that  it  must  be  delivered  to  the  factory  very  soon  after  cutting ;  aud  that 
it  must  be  taken  care  of  before  the  season  of  heavy  frosts. 

THE   WORK   AT    THE   FACTORY. 
Tin:   FIRST   CUTTING. 

The  operations  of  the  factory  are  illustrated  in  the  large  drawing,  to 
which  the  reader  is  referred  in  tracing  the  successive  steps.  The  first 
cutting  is  accomplished  in  the  ensilage  or  feed-cutter.  This  cutter 
is  provided  with  three  knives,  fastened  to  the  three  spokes  of  a  cast- 
iron  wheel,  which  makes  about  250  revolutions  per  minute,  carrying  the 
knives  with  a  shearing  motion  past  a  dead  knife.  By  a  forced  feed  the 
cane  is  so  fed  as  to  be  cut  into  pieces  about  1 1  inches  long.  This  cut- 
ting frees  the  leaves  and  nearly  the  entire  sheaths  from  the  pieces  of 
cane.  By  a  suitable  elevator  the  pieces  of  cane,  leaves,  and  sheaths 
are  carried  to  the  second  floor. 

TIIK  CLEANING. 

The  elevator  empties  into  a  hopper,  below  which  a  series  of  four  or 
live  fans  is  arranged  one  below  the  other.  By  passing  down  through 
these  fans  the  caueis  separated  from  the  lighter  leaves  much  as  grain  is 
separated  from  chaff.  The  Leaves  are  blown  away,  and  fiually  taken 
from  the  building  by  an  exhaust  fan.  This  separ.it ion  of  the  leaves 
and  other  refuse  is  essential  to  the  Bncoess  <>:'  the  sugar-making,  for  in 
them  the  largesl  part  of  the  coloring  and  other  deleterious  matters  are 
contained.  If  carried  into  the  diffusion  battery  these  matters  arc  ex 
traded  (see  report8  of  Chemical  Division,  U.S.  Department  of  Agri- 
culture), and  go  into  the  juice  with  the  sugar.  As  already  stated,  the 
process  of  manufacturing  sugar  is  essentially  one  of  separation.  The 
mechanical  elimination  of  these  deleterious  substances  at  the  outset  at 
once  obviates  the  necessity  of  separating  them  later  and  by  more  diffi- 
cult methods,  and  relieves  the  juice  of  their  harmful  influences.  Prom 
the  fans  the  piece  ne  are  delivered  by  a  screw  carrier  to  an  ele- 

vator, which  discharges  into 

TIN:    PINAL   I  !    1  riNG-MACHl  ! 

on  the  third  floor.  This  machine  consists  of  an  S-inch  cast-iron  cylinder 
with  knives  like  those  of  a  planing-machine.  It  is  really  three  cylin- 
ders placed  end  to  end  on  the  same  Shaft,  making  the  entire  length  18 
inches.  The  knives  are  inserted  in  slots  and  held  in  place  with  set- 
screw-.  The  cylinder  revolves  at  the  rate  of  about  1,200  per  minute, 
carrying  the  knives  past  an  iron  dead  knife,  which  is  sel  so  close  that 
do  cane  can  pass  without  being  cu1  into  tine  chip-.  Prom  this  cutter 
the  chips  <»t  caue  are  taken  by  an  elevator  and  a  conveyor  to  the  ceils 
of  tin-  diffusion  battery.  The  conveyor  passes  above  and  at  one  side  of 
i;,i  19— No.  17 ;; 


34 

the  battery,  and  is  provided  with  an  opening  and  a  spout  opposite  each 
cell  of  the  battery.  The  openings  are  closed  at  pleasure  by  a  slide.  A 
movable  spout  completes  the  connection  with  any  cell  whieh  it  is  desired 
to  till  with  chips. 

WHAT    IS   DIFFUSK 

The  condition  in  which  the  sugars  and  other  soluble  substances  exist 
in  the  cane  is  that  of  solution  in  water.  This  sweetish  liquid  is  con- 
tained, like  the  juices  of  plants  generally,  in  cells.  The  walls  of  these 
cells  are  porous.  It  has  long  been  known  that  if  a  solution  of  sugar  in 
water  be  placed  in  a  porous  or  membranous  sack  and  the  sack  placed 
in  water,  an  action  called  osmose  takes  place,  whereby  the  water  from 
the  outside  and  the  sugar  solution  from  the  inside  of  the  sack  each  pass 
through  until  the  liquids  on  the  two  sides  of  the  membrane  are  equally 
sweet.  Other  substances  soluble  in  water  behave  similarly,  but  sugar 
and  other  readily  erystallizable  substances  pass  through  much  more 
readily  than  uncry stall izable  or  difficultly  erystallizable  bodies.  To  ap- 
ply this  property  to  the  extraction  of  sugar  the  cane  is  first  cut  into  fine 
chips,  as  already  described,  and  put  into  the  diffusion  cells,  where  water 
is  applied  and  the  sugar  is  displaced. 

WHAT   HAS  TAKEN   PLACE   IN   Till;   DIFFUSION   CELLS. 

For  the  purpose  of  illustration,  let  us  assume  that  when  a  cell  has 
been  filled  with  chips  just  as  much  water  is  passed  into  the  cell  as  there 
was  juice  in  the  chips.  The  process  of  osmose  or  diffusion  sets  in,  and 
in  a  lew  minutes  there  is  as  much  sugar  in  the  liquid  outside  of  the  cane 
cells  as  in  the  juice  in  these  cane  cells;  i.  e.,  the  water  and  the  juice 
have  divided  the  sugar,  each  taking  half.  Again,  assume  that  as  much 
liquid  can  be  drawn  from  one  as  there  was  water  added.  It  is  plain 
that  if  the  osmotic  action  is  complete  the  liquid  drawn  off  will  be  half 
as  sweet  as  cane  juice.  It  has  now  readied  fresh  chips  in  two,  and 
again  equalizatiou  takes  place.  Hall'  of  the  sugar  from  one  was  brought 
into  two,  so  that  it  now  contains  \S  portions  of  sugar,  dissolved  in  2 
portions  of  liquid,  or  the  liquid  has  risen  to  j  of  the  strength  of  cane 
juice.  Thi8  liquid  having  :f  strength  passes  to  three,  and  we  have  in 
th  ire  1 1  portions  of  liquid,  or  after  the  action  has  taken  place  the  lit  pi  id 
in  three  is  g  strength.  One  portion  of  this  Liquid  passes  to  four,  and 
we  have  1;  portions  of  sugar  in  2  portions  of  Liquid,  or  the  liquid  be- 
come! ngth.     One  portion  of  this  liquid    passes   to   live,  and  we 

ha\  e  in  live  1 1 g  portions  of  sugar  in  2  portions  of  liquid,  or  the  liquid 
Strength.     It    is  now  called  juice,  and  is  drawn  off  and  subjected 

to  the  processes  of  the  subsequent  operations  of  the  factory.    From  this 

time  forward  a  cell  IS  drawn  tor  every  one  tilled. 


35 


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Throughout  the  operation  the  temperature  is  kept  as  near  the  boil- 
ing point  as  ean  be  done  conveniently  without  danger  of  tilling  .some  of 
the  battery  cells  with  steam.  Diffusion  takes  place  more  rapidly  at 
high  than  at  low  temperatures,  and  the  danger  of  fermentation,  with 
the  consequent  loss  of  sugar,  is  avoided.  The  process  will  be  readily 
understood  from  the  above  diagram,  in  which  the  columns  represent 
the  cells  of  the  battery,  the  numbers  at  the  left  the  number  of  diffusions; 
?r,  water;  /,  liquid  in  the  cells,  or  passing  through  them,  and  J,  juice  to 
be  drawn. 

INVERSION   "i     SUGAR   IN*  Tin:   DIFFUSION   CELLS. 


In  the  experiments  at  Port  Scott  in  L886  much  difficulty  was  experi- 
enced on  account  of  inversion  of  the  sugar  in  the  diffusion  battery.  The 
report  shows  that    this  resulted    from  the  use  of  soured  cane  and  from 

delays  in  the  operation  of  the  battery  on  account  of  the  imperfect  work- 
ing of  thecntting  and  elevating  machinery,  much  of  which  was  then 
experimental,      (aider  the  circumstances,  however,  it    became  a  matter 

of  the  gravest  importance  to  Hud  a  method  of  preventing  this  inversion 
without  in  any  manner  interfering  with  the  other  processes.  On  the 
suggestion  ot  Professor  Bwenson  a  portion  of  freshly  precipitated  car- 
bonate of  lime  was  placed    with  the  chips  in  each   cell.      [q  the  case  of 

soured  cane  this  took  up  the  acid  which  otherwise  produced  inversion. 

In  case  no  harmful  acids  were  present  this  chalk  was  entirely  iuactix  e. 

Soured  canes  are  nol  desirable  to  work  under  any  circumstances,  and 
should  be  rejected  by  the  chemist  and  not  allowed  to  enter  the  factory. 

So,  also,  delays  on   account    of  imperfect    niicliiiici\    are   disastrous   to 

profitable  manufacturing  and  must  be  avoided.     But  tor  those  whode- 


36 

sire  to  experiment  with  deteriorated  canes  and  untried  cutting-machines, 
the  addition  of  the  calcium  carbonate  provides  against  disastrous  re- 
sults which  would  otherwise  be  inevitable. 

CLARIFYING   Oil   DEFECATING    THE    JUICE. 

Immediately  after  it  is  drawn  from  the  diffusion  battery  the  juice  is 
taken  from  the  measuring  tanks  into  the  defecating  tanks  or  pans.  These 
are  large,  deep  vessels,  provided  with  copper  steam  coils  in  the  bottom 
for  the  purpose  of  heating  the  juice.  Sufficient  milk  of  lime  is  added 
here  to  nearly  or  quite  neutralize  the  acids  in  the  juice,  the  test  being 
made  with  litmus  paper.  The  juice  is  brought  to  the  boiling  point,  and 
as  much  of  the  scum  is  removed  as  can  be  taken  quickly.  The  scum  is 
returned  to  the  diffusion  cells,  and  the  juice  is  sent  by  a  pump  to  the 
top  of  the  building,  where  it  is  boiled  and  thoroughly  skimmed.  These 
skimmings  are  also  returned  to  the  diffusion  cells. 

This  method  of  disposing  of  the  skimmings  was  suggested  by  Mr. 
Parkinson.  It  is  better  than  the  old  plan  of  throwing  them  away  to 
decompose  and  create  a  stench  about  the  factory.  Probably  a  better 
method  would  be  to  pass  these  skimmings  through  some  sort  of  lilter, 
or  perhaps  better  still,  to  filter  the  juice  and  avoid  all  skimming.  After 
this  last  skimming  the  juice  is  ready  to  be  boiled  down  to  a  thin  sirup, 
in 

THE    DOUBLE-EFFECT   EVAPORATORS. 

These  consist  of  two  large  closed  pans  provided  within  with  steam 
pipes  of  copper,  whereby  the  liquid  is  heated.  They  are  also  connected 
with  each  other  and  with  pumps  in  such  a  way  as  to  reduce  the  press- 
ure in  the  first  to  about  three-fifths  and  in  the  second  to  about  oue- 
fifth  the  normal  atmospheric  pressure. 

The  juice  boils  rapidly  in  the  first  at-some what  below  the  temperature 
of  boiling  water,  and  in  the  second  at  a  still  lower  temperature.  The 
exhaust  steam  from  the  engines  is  used  for  heating  the  first  pan,  and 
the  vapor  from  Hie  boiling  juice  in  the  first  pan  is  hot  enough  to  do  all 
the  boiling  in  the  second,  and  is  taken  into  the  copper  pipes  of  the  sec- 
ond for  this  purpose.      In  this  way  the   evaporation  is  effected  without 

so  great  expenditure  of  furl  as  is  necessary  in  open  pans,  or  in  single- 
effect  vacuum  pans,  and  the  deleterious  influences  of  long  continued 
high  temperature  on  the  crystallizing  powers  of  the  sugar  are  avoided. 
From  the  double  efl'eels  the  sirup  is  stored  in  tanks  ready  to  be  taken 
into  the  strike-pan,  where  the  sugar  is  crystallized. 

i  ill     I  [RSI    '  ii  am  IE  TO    PAUSE, 

At    this  point  the   juice   has   just  reached  a  condition  in  which  it  will 

keep.    Prom  the  momenl  the  cane  is  cul  in  the  fields  until   now  every 

dela\  LS  liable  to  entail  loss  of  sugar  by  inversion.  Alter  the  water  is 
put  into  the  cells  of  the  battery  with  the  chips,  the  temperature  la  care- 


37 

fully  kept  above  that  at  which  fermentation  takes  place  most  readily, 
and  the  danger  of  inversion  is  thereby  reduced.  But  with  all  the  pre- 
cautious known  to  science  up  to  this  point  the  utmost  celerity  is  neces- 
sary to  secure  the  best  results.  There  is  here,  however,  a  natural  divis- 
ion in  the  process  of  sugar-making,  which  will  be  further  considered 
under  the  heading  of  ki  auxiliary  factories."  Any  part  of  the  pi 
'heretofore  described  may  be  learned  in  a  few  days  by  workmen  of  intel- 
ligence and  observation  who  will  give  careful  attention  to  their  respect- 
ive duties. 

BOILING  THE   SIR  DP  TO   GRAIN  THE   SUGAR. 

This  operation  is  the  next  in  course,  and  is  performed  in  what  is 
known  at  the  sugar  factory  as  the  strike-pan,  a  large  air-tight  vessel 
from  which  the  air  and  vapor  are  almost  exhausted  by  means  of  a  suit- 
able pump  and  condensing  apparatus.  As  is  the  case  with  the  saccha- 
rine  juices  of  other  plants,  the  sugar  from  sorghum  crystallizes  most 
readily  at  medium  temperature.  There  are  two  ways  of  proceeding. 
The  simplest  is  to  boil  the  sirup  in  the  vacuum  pan  until  it  has  reached 
about  the  density  at  which  crystallization  begins,  then  draw  it  oil' into 
suitable  vessels  and  set  it  away  in  a  hot  room  (about  1 10°  to  120°  F.)  to 
crystallize  slowly.  The  proper  density  is  usually  judged  by  the  boiler, 
by  observing  the  length  to  which  a  sample  of  the  hot  liqnid  from  the 
pan  can  be  drawn.  This  is  called  the  "string  proof"  test  A  far  bet- 
ter method  is  to  "  boil  to  grain  "  in  the  pan.  This  is  better  becanse  it 
gives  the  operator  control  of  the  size  of  the  grain  within  certain  limits, 
because  it  gives  abetter  appearing  sugar,  and  more  important  still,  be- 
cause with  proper  skill  it  gives  a  better  yield.  Several  descriptions  of 
this  delicate  operation  have  been  published.  After  reading  some  of  the 
best  of  these,  the  writer  found,  on  attempting  to  boil  to  grain,  that  more 
definite  instruction  was  necessary;  and  after  obtaining  the  instruction 
it  became  apparent  that  while  almost  any  one  can  learn  to  "boil  to 
grain,"  yet  to  obtain  the  best  yield  requires  personal  skill  and  powers 
of  observation  and  comparison  which  will  be  obtained  in  widely  differ- 
ent degrees  by  different  persons.  To  bee  en-1  a  good  sugar  boiler,  one 
mnst  be  an  enthusiastic  specialist.  The  Parkinson  Sugar  Company 
were  fortunate  in  securing  for  this  important  work  the  services  of  .Mr. 
Frederick  Hiuze,  a  native  of  Hanover,  Germany,  and  a  graduate  of  the 
••Sugar  Industry  School "  at  Braunschweig.  Though  a  young  man, 
Mr.  Hiuze  has  bad  a  Large  experience,  having  assisted  his  brother  in 
the  erection  and  opcr.it  ion  of  sugar  factories  iu  Germany,  and  since  com 
ing  to  America  having  worked  in  the  beet  sugar  factory  nt  Alvarado, 

OaL,  and  in  cane  SUgar  factories  in  Louisiana  and    in  Cuba.      Since  the 

close  of  the  working  season  al  Port  Scott,  Mr.  Eli  nze  has  again  gone  to 

Louisiana  and  taken  char-.'  of  a  strike  pan  at  the  sugar    house  of   K\ 

Governor  Warmoth,  where  he  worked  lasl  season. 

The  process  of  boiling  to  grain  maj  be  described  as  follows :  A  por- 
tion of  the  simp  is  taken  Into  the  pan,  and  boiled  rapidly  in  vacuo  to 


38 

the  crystallizing  density.  If  in  a  sirup  the  molecules  of  sugar  are 
brought  sufficiently  near  to  each  other  through  concentration — the  re- 
moval of  the  dissolving  liquid — these  molecules  attract  each  other  so 
strongly  as  to  overcome  the  separating  power  of  the  solvent,  and  they 
unite  to  form  crystals.  Sugar  is  much  more  soluble  at  high  than  at 
low  temperatures,  the  heat  acting  in  this  as  in  almost  all  cases  as  a  re- 
pulsive force  among  the  molecules.  It  is  therefore  necessary  to  main- 
tain a  high  vacuum  in  order  to  boil  at  a  low  pressure,  in  boiling  to  grain. 
When  the  proper  density  is  reached,  the  crystals  sometimes  fail  to  ap- 
pear, and  a  fresh  portion  of  cold  sirup  is  allowed  to  enter  the  pan. 
This  must  not  be  sufficient  in  amount  to  reduce  the  density  of  the  con- 
tents of  the  pan  below  that  at  which  crystallization  may  take  place. 
This  cold  sirup  causes  a  sudden  though  slight  reduction  of  tempera 
ture,  which  may  so  reduce  the  repulsive  forces  as  to  allow  the  attraction 
among  the  molecules  to  prevail,  resulting  in  the  inception  of  crystalliza- 
tion. To  discover  this  requires  the  keenest  observation.  When  begin- 
ning to  form,  the  crystals  are  too  minute  to  show  either  form  or  size, 
even  when  viewed  through  a  strong  magnifying  glass.  There  is  to  be 
seen  simply  a  very  delicate  cloud.  The  inexperienced  observer  would 
entirely  overlook  this  cloud,  his  attention  probably  being  directed  to 
some  curious  globular  and  annular  objects,  which  I  have  nowhere  seen 
explained.  Very  soon  after  the  sample  from  the  pan  is  placed  upon 
glass  for  observation  the  surface  becomes  cooled  and  somewhat  hard- 
ened. As  the  cooling  proceeds  below  the  surface  contraction  ensues, 
and  consequently  a  wrinkling  of  the  surface,  causing  a  shimmer  of  the 
light  in  a  very  attractive  manner.  This,  too,  is  likely  to  attract  more 
attention  than  the  delicate,  thin  cloud  of  crystals,  and  may  be  even  con- 
founded with  the  reflection  and  refraction  of  light,  by  which  alone  the 
minute  crystals  are  determined.  The  practical  operator  learns  to  dis- 
regard all  other  attractions,  and  to  look  for  the  cloud  and  its  peculiari- 
ties. When  the  contents  of  the  pan  have  again  reached  the  proper 
density  another  portion  of  sirup  is  added.  The  sugar  which  this  con- 
tains is  attracted  to  the  crystals  already  formed,  and  goes  to  enlarge 
i  hex-  rather  than  t<>  form  new  crystals,  provided  the  first  are  sufficiently 
numerous  to  receive  the  sugar  as  rapidly  as  it  can  crystallize. 

The  contents  Of  the  pan  are  repeatedly  brought  to  the  proper  density, 
and  fresh  sirup  added,  as  above  described,  until  the  desired  size  of 
grain  is  obtained,  or  until  the  pan  is  full.    Good  management  should 

bring  about  these  two  conditions  at  the  same  time.  If  a  sufficient  num- 
ber of  crystals  lias  not  been  started  at  the  beginning  of  the  opera! ion  to 
receive  the  sugar  from  the  sirup  added,  a  fresh  crop  of  crystals  will 

t>  -tailed  at  such  time  as  t  he  eivst  allizat  ion  heroines  too  rapid  to  be 
accommodated  on  the  surfaces  of  the  grain  already  formed.      The  older 

and  larger  crystals  grow  more  rapidly,  by  reason  of  their  greater  at- 
tractive force,  than  the  newer  and  smaller  ones  on  succeeding  addi- 
tions of  Sirup,  SO  that    the  disparity    in   size   will   increase  as   tin'  work 


39 

proceeds.  This  condition  is  by  all  means  to  be  avoided,  since  it  entails 
serious  difficulties  on  the  process  of  separating  the  sugar  from  the 
molasses.  In  case  this  second  crop  of  crystals,  called  u  false  grain"  or 
"mush  sugar,"  lias  appeared,  the  sugar  boiler  must  act  upon  bis 
judgment,  guided  by  his  experience,  as  to  what  is  to  be  done.  Be  may 
take  enough  thin  sirup  into  the  pan  to  dissolve  all  of  the  crystals,  and 
begin  again,  or,  if  very  skillful,  he  ma}'  so  force  the  growth  of  the  false 
grain  as  to  bring  it  up  to  a  size  that  can  be  worked. 

No  attempt  will  be  made  here  to  describe  the  methods  of  L-  boiling 
for  yield,"  nor  to  point  out  the  methods  by  which  many  special  diffi- 
culties are  to  be  overcome.  Not  only  does  the  limited  experience  of  the 
writer  make  him  hesitate  to  enter  upon  these  intricate  subjects,  but 
their  discussion  would  unduly  extend  this  report.  It  may  be  remarked 
that  the  handling  of  the  cane,  the  treatment  of  the  juice,  and  the  prep- 
aration of  the  simp,  have  much  to  do  witli  the  difficulties  and  success 
of  this  the  most  intricate  of  all. 

THE   FIVAL  SEPARATION   OF   THE   SUGAR   FROM   THE   MOLA£ 

The  completion  of  the  work  in  the  strike  pan  leaves  the  sugar  mixed 
with  molasses.  The  mixture  is  called  melada  or  masse cuite.  It  may  be 
drawn  oil'  into  iron  sugar  wagons  and  set  in  the  hot  room  above  men- 
tioned, in  which  case  still  more  of  the  sugar  which  remains  in  the  mi- 
crystallized  state  generally  joins  the  crystals,  somewhat  increasing  the 
yield  of  "first  sugar."  At  the  proper  time  these  sugar  wagons  are 
emptied  into  a  mixing  machine,  where  the  mass  is  brought  to  a  uni- 
form consistency.  If  the  sugar  wagons  are  not  used,  the  strike-pan  is 
emptied  directly  into  the  mixer. 

THE   (KM  RIFUGAL   machines. 

From  the  mixer  the  melada  is  drawn  into  the  centrifugal  machines. 
These  consist,  fust,  of  an  iron  case  resembling  in  form  the  husk  of  mill- 
stones. A  spout  at  the  bottom  of  the  husk  connects  with  a  molasses 
tank.  Within  this  husk  is  placed  a  metallic  vessel  with  perforated 
sides.  This  vessel  is  either  mounted  or  hung  on  a  vertical  axis,  and  is 
lined  with  wire  cloth.  Having  taken  a  proper  portion  of  the  melada 
into  the  centrifugal,  the  operator  starts  it  to  revolving,  and  bv  means 

of  a  friction  clutch  makes   such  connection  with  the  engine  as  gives  ii 

abonl  1,500  revolutions  per  minute.  The  centrifugal  force  developed 
drives  the  liquid  molasses  through  the  meshes  of  the  wire  cloth,  and 
out  against  the  husk,  from  which  it  flows  off  into  a  tank.  The  sugar, 
being  solid,  is  retained  by  the  wire  cloth,  [f  there  is  in  the  melada 
the  n  false  grain"  already  mentioned,  it  passes  into  the  meshes  of  the 
wire  (doth,  and  prevents  the  passage  of  the  rnolass*  9,     After  the  tno« 

lasses  has  bee arlj  all  thrown  oat,  0  small  quantity  of  wat< 

sprayed  over  the  sugar  whil<  the  centrifugal  is  m  motion.  This  is 
forced  through  the  sugar,  and  carries  with  it   much    of  the  molasses 


40 

which  would  otherwise  adhere  to  the  sugar,  and  discolor  it.  If  the 
sugar  is  to  be  refined,  this  washing  with  water  is  omitted.  When  the 
sugar  has  been  sufficiently  dried,  the  machine  is  stopped,  the  sugar  taken 

out,  and  put  into  barrels  for  market. 

Simple  as  the  operation  of  the  centrifugals  is,  the  direction  of  the 
sugar-boiler  as  to  the  special  treatment  of  each  strike  is  necessary, 
since  he,  better  than  any  one  else,  knows  what  difficulties  are  to  be  ex- 
pected on  account  of  the  condition  in  which  the  melada  left  the  strike- 
pan. 

CAPACITY  OF   THE   SUGAR   FACTORY. 

It  has  already  been  shown  that  the  operation  of  the  diffusion  battery 
should  be  continuous.  The  experience  so  far  had  in  diffusing  sorghum 
indicates  eight  minutes  as  the  proper  time  for  filling  a  cell;  or  one  cell 
should  be  filled  and  another  emptied  every  eight  minutes.  This,  with 
a  battery  of  twelve  (.-ells,  nine  of  which  are  under  pressure,  gives  seventy- 
two  minutes  as  the  time  during  which  the  chips  are  subject  to  the  action 
of  the  water.  If  the  chips  are  cut  sufficiently  fine,  the  time  may  be  re- 
duced to  seven  or  even  to  six  minutes  to  the  cell  without  probable  loss 
from  poor  extraction.  The  time  may  be  extended  to  ten  minutes  per 
cell  without  danger  of  damage  when  working  sound  canes. 

Taking  eight  minutes  as  the  mean,  we  shall  have  one  hundred  and 
eighty  as  the  number  of  cells  diffused  in  a  day.  To  secure  the  best  re- 
sults, all  other  parts  of  the  factory  must  be  adjusted  to  work  as  rapidly 
as  the  diffusion  battery,  so  that  the  capacity  of  the  battery  will  deter- 
mine the  capacity  of  the  factory. 

A  plant  having  a  battery  like  that  at  Fort  Scott,  in  which  the  cells 
are  each  capable  of  containing  a  ton  of  cane  chips,  should  then  have  a 
capacity  of  L80  tons  of  cleaned  cane,  or  200  tons  of  cane  with  leaves,  or 
240  tons  of  cane  as  it  grows  in  the  field,  per  day  of  twenty-four  hours. 
Those  who  have  given  most  attention  to  the  subject  think  that  a  bat- 
tery composed  of  14-ton  cells  may  be  operated  quite  as  successfully  as 
a  battery  of  1-ton  cells.  Such  a  battery  would  have  a  capacity  of  300 
tons  of  field  cane  per  day. 

SIMPLIFICATION   or'   THE    DIFFUSION    BATTERY. 

The  diffusion  battery  as  used  at  the  Parkinson  factory  is  an  intricate 
and  expensive  apparatus,  and  yet,  it  is  simple  as  compared  with  those 
first  used  in  Germany  and  Prance.  The  <  rermans  have,  however,  within 
a  few  years  constructed  batteries  even  simpler  than  that  at  Fori  Scott. 
An  apparatus  lias  even  been  constructed  composed  of  a  single  vessel 
through  which    the  water   passes   in  one  direction  while    the  chips  are 

moved  slowly  in  the  other  by  a  screw  conveyor.  The  batteries  which 
will  lie  used  in  this  country,  however,  will  doubtless  be  constructed  on 
the  genera]  plan  of  that  used  at   Port  Scott,  with  such  modifications  as 

will  cheapen  the  construction  and  reduce  the  labor  of  operating. 


41 

THE   CUTTING   AND    CLEANING   APPARATUS. 

This  consists  of  modifications  of  appliances  which  have  long  been 
used  for  other  purposes.  Simple  as  it  is,  and  presenting  only  mechan- 
ical problems,  the  cutting,  cleaning,  and  elevating  apparatus  is  likely 
to  be  the  source  of  more  delays  and  perplexities  in  the  operation  of  the 
sugar  factory  than  any  other  part. 

The  diffusion  battery  in  good  hands  works  perfectly;  the  clarification 
of  the  juice  causes  no  delays;  the  concentration  to  the  condition  of 
semi-sirup  may  be  readily,  rapidly,  and  surely  effected  in  apparatus 
which  has  been  brought  to  great  perfection  by  long  experience,  and  in 
many  forms;  the  work  at  the  strike-pan  requires  only  to  be  placed  in 
the  hands  of  an  expert;  the  mixer  never  fails  to  do  its  duty.  There 
are  various  forms  of  centrifugal  machines  on  the  market,  some  of  which 
are  nearly  perfect.  lt\  then,  the  mechanical  work  of  delivering,  culling, 
cleaning,  and  elevating  the  cane  can  be  accomplished  with  regularity 
and  rapidity,  the  operation  of  a  well-adjusted  sugar  factory  should  pro- 
ceed without  interruption  or  delay  from  Monday  morning  to  Saturday 
night. 

The  machines  used  at  Fort  Scott  for  these  purposes  have  not  been 
described  iu  detail.  They  need  only  to  be  made  stronger  and  simpler. 
Their  general  plan  is  not  far  from  that  which  is  likely  to  be  in  general 
use  in  the  near  future. 

The  methods  of  handling  cane  need  some  modifications  as  to  details. 
The  arrangement  for  making  the  factory  engine  unload  tin*  cane  from 
the  farmers'  wagons  will  probably  never  be  abandoned,  since  it  is  much 
nmre  rapid  and  leaves  the  cane  in  better  shape  than  it  can  be  left  by 
hand. 

Till:   SCIENTIFIC  WORK. 

The  present  favorable  condition  of  the  sorghum-sugar  industry,  like 
the  Immense  development  of  the  beet-sugar  industry  of  Europe,  is  in- 
debted tor  its  existence  largely  to  long-continued  scientific  work;  and 
while  much  of  the  scientific  manipulation  which  it  was  once  feared  would 
be  necessary  to  SUCCeSS  has  been  eliminated  in  piact  ice,  ye1  the  scientist 
has  not  been  able  to  BO  far  Minplify  the  subject  as  to  enable  the  manu- 
facturer to  dispense  with  his  services.  I  shall  try  here  to  make  a  plain 
statement  of  the  scientific  work  necessary  in  a  sugar  factory  underde- 
velopments 80  tar  made. 

WHERE    illi:   SCIENTIFIC    WORE     is   NEEDED. 

It  has  already  been  shown  that  it  is  only  on  reaching  maturity  that 
sorghum  is  a  profitable  sugar  plant.  To  determine  when  most  faun 
products  are  ripe  is  a  simple  matter  of  inspection.  But  it  is  astonish- 
ing to  note  how  greatly  di  fife  rent  will  be  the  views  of,  say,  a  dozen  prac- 
tical farmers  as  to  when  a  given  field  of  wheat  i>  ripe.  Experience  iu 
judgingof  the  ripeness  <»t'  sorghum  i^  far  less  extended  than  in  the  ca.se 


42 

of  wheat.  Indeed,  the  varying  conditions  of  the  weather  so  greatly 
affect  the  appearance  of  ripeness,  t.  e.,  the  hardness  of  the  seed,  the  con- 
dition of  the  leaves,  etc.,  that  the  manufacturer,  who  must  know  before 
he  uses  cane  whether  it  is  ripe  or  green,  is  left  no  other  than  the  test  of 
chemical  analysis.  This  determines  the  one  point  of  interest  to  him, 
namely,  whether  the  cane  has  reached  such  a  degree  of  maturity  as  to 
have  made  its  sugar. 

Again,  although  the  cane  may  have  reached  full  maturity,  if  it  shall 
have  been  cut  and  exposed  to  the  atmospheric  influences  of  the  earlier 
part  of  the  season  for  any  considerable  time,  the  sugar  may  have  been 
changed  to  glucose.  In  moist  weather  this  change  may  take  place  with- 
out any  accompanying  change  in  the  appearance  of  the  cane.  A  notable 
instance  illustrating  this  kind  of  depreciation  occurred  at  the  Parkinson 
works  during  the  season  just  closed.  A  farmer  brought  in  a  sample  of 
excellent-looking  cane.  The  book-keeper,  who  lias  had  considerable 
experience  about  sugar  factories,  examined  it,  and  after  ascertaining 
by  the  hydrometer  that  the  juice  contained  about  13  per  cent,  of  dis- 
solved solids,  was  about  to  direct  the  farmer  to  bring  in  the  cane. 
An  analysis  showed  that  about  8  of  this  13  percent,  was  glucose,  3  per 
cent,  sugar,  and  2  per  cent,  other  substances  not  more  valuable  than 
glucose.  Inquiry  disclosed  the  fact  that  the  cane  had  been  cut  for 
three  days.  The  weather  had  been  moist,  so  that  no  change  in  ap- 
pearance had  taken  place.  To  have  worked  such  cane  for  sugar  would 
have  been  worse  than  useless,  since  the  glucose  and  other  substances 
its  juice  contained  would  have  held  from  crystallization  not  only  the  3 
per  cent,  of  sugar  which  this  cane  contained,  but  a  considerable  amount 
more  had  it  been  worked  with  better  juice. 

Instances  might  be  multiplied  to  show  the  perplexities  and  disap. 
pointments  which  are  liable  to  result  unless  a  most  careful  supervision 
be  had  of  the  condition  of  the  cane  when  it  enters  the  factory.  Cer- 
tainly no  field  of  cane  should  be  cut  until  the  development  of  its  su- 
gar has  been  reached  and  determined  by  the  best  means  available. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  season,  while  the  weather  is  warm,  all  cane 
cut  in  the  forenoon  should  be  worked  the  same  day,  and  that  cut 
in  the  afternoon  should  be  worked  by  noon  the  next  day.  During  the 
cooler  weather  of  the  latter  part  of  the  season  it  is  not  necessary  to  be 
quite  so  prompt.  The  delays  which  will  be  admissible  can  be  deter- 
mined by  analysis  of  the  cane. 

Not  only  is  it  necessary  to  know  that  the  cane  enters  the  factory  with 
its  sugar  intact,  but  it  is  important  to  see  that  it  does  not  sutler  inver- 
sion during  the  process  of  manufacture.    To  prevent  this  all  delays  must 

be  avoided.  The  cane  must  go  promptly  ami  regularly  through  the  cut- 
ters and  cleaners  as  rapidly  as  it  can  be  thoroughly  diffused,  in  a  pile 
of  cane  chips  inversion  of  the  sugar  very  soon  begins,  and  is  soon  fol- 
lowed, if  not  accompanied,  by  acetic  fermentation,    [f  acetic  or  other 

active  acid  be  present  in  the  diffusion  cells   it  causes  rapid  inversion  of 


43 

the  sugar  under  the  high  temperature  of  the  battery.  After  leaving 
the  battery  the  treatment  of  the  juice  must  be  prompt  to  guard  against 
inversion.  Indeed,  as  has  been  remarked  above,  every  part  of  the  fac- 
tory in  which  the  work  is  done  until  the  juice  has  been  reduced  to  a 
sirup  should  be  of  such  a  capacity  that  it  can  surely  do  its  work  at  all 
times  as  rapidly  as  the  battery  can  be  operated.  It  is  a  matter  of  great 
importance  to  the  manufacturer  to  know  whether,  at  any  stage  of  the 
process,  inversion  is  taking  place.  To  determine  this  the  analysis  of 
average  samples  of  freshly-cut  chips  may  be  compared  with  analysis  of 
the  product  at  other  stages.  For  example:  To  determine  whether  in- 
version is  taking  place  in  the  battery,  crush  out  and  analyze  the  juice 
from  samples  of  chips  as  they  enter;  then  analyze  samples  of  the  dilfu. 
sion  juice  as  it  comes  from  the  battery.  If  the  relation  of  sugar  to 
glucose  is  the  same  in  these  analyses  it  may  be  concluded  that  no  in- 
version is  taking  place.  If,  however,  the  proportion  of  sugar  to  glucose 
is  smaller  in  the  diffusion  juice  than  in  that  obtained  directly  from  the 
chips  by  crushing,  inversion  is  probably  taking  place,  ami  its  cause 
must  be  sought  and  remedied. 

The  subsequent  processes  of  manufacture  give  little  occasion  for  in- 
version, unless  from  delay  before  the  juice  has  been  reduced  to  sirup. 
The  safest  plan  is  to  not  let  it  cool  until  it  is  ready  for  the  strike-pan. 
If  unavoidable  delays  lead  to  a  suspicion  that  inversion  may  have  taken 
place,  the  matter  may  be  determined  by  analysis.  Inversion  is  not  the 
only  cause  of  loss  to  be  guarded  against  in  the  battery.  As  shown  by 
the  report  of  the  chemist  of  the  United  States  Department  of  Agricult- 
ure, the  average  extraction  of  the  battery  at  the  Parkinson  factory 
this  season  was  92.01  per  cent,  of  all  the  sugars  the  cane  contained. 
A  closer  average  extraction  than  95  percent,  is  scarcely  to  be  expected, 
and  an  extraction  of  less  than  90  per  cent,  should  be  considered  inad- 
missible. Poor  extraction  may  result  from  overhurryiug  the  battery, 
from  allowing  the  temperature  to  run  too  low,  from  raising  the  tem- 
perature too  highly,  thereby  tilling  the  upper  parts  of  the  cells  with 
steam  instead  of  water,  i  r  from  improper  manipulation  of  the  valves, 
or  from  failure  of  the  cutting  machines  to  properly  prepare   the  chips. 

Tin-  perfection  of  the  extraction  may  be  determined  by  analysis  of  the 
exhausted  chips  from  the  battery,  and  if  not   found  satisfactory,  the 

Cause  18  Of  COnr8e  t<»  be  sought  on!  and  remedied. 

It  is  desirable  for  the  manufacturer  to  know  how  much  Bugar  he  is 

leaving  in  the  molasses,  ami  also  how  much  molasses  he  i^  leaving  in 

the  sugar  ;  i.  > ..  the  purity  of  the  sugar.  These  points  are  readily  deter- 
mined by  analysis. 

who   0AM    no  THIS  SOIEM1  CFIC    WORB  .' 

It  is  doubtless  desirable,  though  not  essential,  thai  the  superintend' 
ent  of  a  sugar  factory  be  also  a  chemist  The  analyses  indicated  in  the 
above  pages  are  not  intricate.    To  make  them  all.  howo er,  \\ ill  require 


44 

considerable  time,  and  whether  the  superintendent  be  capable  or  inca- 
pable of  making  them,  he  will  scarcely  be  able  to  spare  the  time  which 
ought  to  be  devoted  to  them. 

Any  of  the  graduates  of  our  agricultural  or  other  colleges  who  have 
taken  a  good  course  of  chemistry,  with  laboratory  practice,  can  by  a 
few  months'  special  training  in  sugar  chemistry  and  practice  in  sugar 
analysis  become  entirely  competent  to  do  the  work  required  in  the  or- 
dinary operation  of  a  factory,  under  the  direction  of  the  superintendent. 

HOW  TO  MAKE  THE  ANALYSES  NECESSARY  IN  THE  SUGAR  FACTORY. 

It  is  hoped  that  the  following  discussion  of  the  methods  of  making 
sugar  analyses  will  be  of  interest  to  some  who  may  engage  in  such 
work,  and  throw  some  light  on  the  subject  for  the  general  reader.  For 
fuller  discussions  of  the  subject,  the  reader  is  referred  to  Tucker's 
Sugar  Analysis,  and  the  bulletins  of  the  Chemical  Division,  U.  S.  De- 
partment of  Agriculture. 

It  is  well  to  remember  here,  that  on  account  of  the  sugar  and  other 
substances  dissolved  in  it  cane  juice  is  denser  than  water.  Thus,  if  9 
pounds  of  water  and  1  pound  of  sugar  be  mixed  together  the  water  will 
dissolve  the  sugar,  and  any  given  volume  of  the  mixture,  say  a  pint,  will 
weigh  one  and  four-hundred ths  times  as  much  as  a  pint  of  water.  Take 
another  illustration:  A  gallon  of  water  weighs  about  S.\  pounds,  while 
a  gallon  of  the  above  supposed  sugar  solution  weighs  about  8|  pounds. 
If  a  sugar  solution  be  made,  containing  20  per  cent,  of  its  weight  in 
sugar,  a  gallon  of  it  will  weigh  about  0  pounds.  A  gallon  of  a  solution 
of  equal  parts  by  weight  of  sugar  and  water  weighs  about  10J  pounds, 
and  sirups  containing  three  parts  sugar  to  one  of  water  weigh  about 
Hi  pounds  to  the  gallon. 

THE  HYDBOMETEB   OB    SACCHABIMETEB. 

Instruments  called  hydrometers  or  s  lecharimeters  have  been  made 
for  determining  the  relative  amounts  of  sugar  and  water  in  solutions. 
These  would  be  sufficient ly  accurate  tor  the  purposes  of  the  manufact- 
urer if  the  juice  contained  nothing  but  cane  sugar  and  water;   but  the 

grape  sugar  and  other  substances  contained  in  the  juice  Increase  the 

density  m  about  the  same  proportion  as  it  is  increased  by  the  cane  sugar. 
While,  therefore,  the  hydrometer  is  of  nse  in  determining  the  amount 
of  solid  mall  -r  contained  in  the  juice,  and  may  be  used  in  some  cases, 
as  in  determining  tie-  degree  of  extraction,  etc.,  it  does  not  determine 
the  relative  proportions  of  the  substances  present. 

two   METHODS  OP   ANALYSIS. 

Two  methods  of  determining  the  percentage  of  cane  sngar  in  a  sample 
of  juice  are  available.    These  are  the  chemical  and  the  optical.     By  the 


45 

first  may  be  determined  the  percentages  of,  first,  cane  sugar;  second, 
grape  sugar,  otherwise  called  glucose;  third.  "  not  sugar;*  fourth,  water; 
constituting  the  juice.  By  the  second  method,  the  cane  sugar  alone  is 
determined.  The  optical  method  is,  however,  conveniently  used  in  con- 
nection with  the  chemical,  in  making  complete  analyses.  One  of  the 
chemical  methods  will  be  considered  first.  I  shall  go  as  little  as  possi- 
ble into  teclmicalitv  here. 


This  is  the  principal  reagent  used  in  the  chemical  methods  of  analy- 
sis. There  arc  several  modifications  of  it.  Perhaps  none  of  these  is 
better  than  Violettds  solution  :  * 

34.04  grams  pure  crystallized  copper  sulphate. 

184.00  grams  tartrate  soda  and  potash  (Rochelle  salt). 
78.00  grams  caustic  soda. 

The  copper  salt  is  to  be  dissolved  in  140  cubic  centimeters  of  distilled 
water,  slowly  added  to  a  solution  of  the  tartrate  and  caustic  soda,  and 
the  whole  made  up  to  1  liter  at  standard  temperature  (17£°  Centigrade; 
63JC  Fabrenh  it).     This  should  be  a  clear  blue  solution. 


Till:   GBAPE-SUGAB   TEST. 

If  now  a  portion  of  this  copper  solution  be  brought  to  a  boil,  and  to 
it  be  added  a  solution  containing  grape  sugar,  the  blue  color  will  be 
Changed  through  various  shades  of  purple  to  crimson,  and  finally  to 
scarlet.  The  reaction  has  reached  the  decisive  stage  when  the  color  is 
crimson.  On  Standing,  the  crimson  precipitate  settles  to  the  bottom  of 
the  vessel.  This  is  the  reaction  for  the  determination  of  grape  sugar. 
If  a  definite  quantity,  say  10  <•<•.,  of  the  copper  solution  be  used  in  the 
above  experiment,  a  definite  quantity  of  grape  sugar.  .<>.")  grams,  will 
have  to  be  added  to  perfect  the  reaction.  Now  by  noting  the  amount 
of  sample  added  to  complete  the  reaction,  the  determination  of  the  per 
centage  of  grape  sugar  from  the  experimental  data  becomes  a  mere 
matter  of  arithmetic.     Thus,  if   1  grams  of  the  sample  had  been  added 

to  produce  the  complete  reaction,  we  should  have  known  that  those  I 

grams   of  sample  contained  live  hundredths  of  a  grain  of  grape  sugar. 
.05-4- 4 =.0125,  or  LJ  per  cent  of  grape  sugar, 

•rm:  <  \  m:  SUGAB    i  i. 

Oane  sugar  lias  no  such  effect  on  the  copper  solution.     !t  has  been 
remarked  already  that  cane  sugar  changes  rerj   readily  into  map.' 

sugar.     This  change  is  easily  produced  by  boiling  the  solution  of  cane 

sugar:  for  example,  the  cane  juice  with  dilute  hydrochloric  or  sulphuric 

acid.     The  cane  juice  will  now  contain  the  grape SUgar  it  originally  COU- 
LS,  p.  186, 


46 

tained,  and  in  addition  that  which  resulted  from  the  inversion  of  the 
caue  sugar.  It  now  only  remains  to  nearly  neutralize  the  acid  in  the 
solution,  cool  it,  and  execute  the  test  and  calculations  for  grape  sugar 
as  before.  Subtracting  the  percentage  of  grape  sugar  originally  found 
from  that  shown  by  the  last  determination  gives  the  percentage  of 
grape  sugar  resulting  from  the  inversion  of  the  cane  sugar.  The  per- 
centage of  cane  sugar  is  .95  of  the  grape  sugar  produced  by  inversion 
of  the  cane  sugar.  The  soluble  solids  "not  sugar "  contained  in  the 
juice  may  be  estimated  by  subtracting  the  sum  of  the  percentages  of 
the  two  sugars  from  the  entire  percentage  of  soluble  solids  as  deter- 
mined by  the  hydrometer. 

THE   OPTICAL  METHOD. 

The  optical  method  of  determining  the  percentage  of  caue  sugar  de- 
pends upon  the  met  that  a  beam  ofrpolarized  light  is  rotated  to  the  right 
in  passing  through  a  solution  of  this  sugar.  While  the  apparatus  for 
executing  this  test  is  expensive  and  the  explanation  intricate,  the 
manipulation  is  simple  and  rapid  and  the  results  satisfactory;  so  that 
it  is  probable  that  all  well-regulated  sugar  factories  will  be  provided 
with  these  instruments. 

For  many  of  the  purposes  of  the  factory  the  determinations  of  the 
percentage  of  cane  sugar  is  all  that  is  required.  The  analyst  will  prob- 
ably be  able  to  make  forty  or  fifty  of  these  determinations  per  day  by 
the  optical  method,  if  so  many  are  required. 

THE  FURTHER   SCIENTIFIC  WORK. 

The  money,  skill,  and  knowledge  which  have  during  the  last  few  years 
been  expended  upon  the  sorghum  plant  have  made  available  a  new  in- 
dustry. The  possibilities  of  this  new  industry  can  be  fully  understood 
only  on  more  fully  considering  some  of  the  facts  which  chemical  science 
has  made  known. 

The  analyses  made  at  the  Parkinson  Sugar  Works  during  the  season 
of  iss7  by  Dr.  0.  A.  Cramp  ton  and  Mr,  Norman  J.  Pake,  chemists  of 
the  T.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture,  are  of  great  value  in  this  connec- 
tion, and  when  supplemented  by  the  further  work  now  in  progress  in 
the  laboratories  of  the  Department  at  Washington  will  become  a  basis 
for  future  work. 

In  tables  of  analyses  the  percentages  given  are  usually  computed  on 

the  weigh  1  of  tin-  juice  contained  in  the  cane.  Those  who  are  familiar 
with  the  babil  of  the  plant  will  readily  see  thai  the  cane  may  be  con- 
sidered in  three  parts,  viz:  (1)  The  lops,  including  the  seed  and  ll!  to 
is  inches  of  the  upper  pari  of  the  stalk;  (2)  the  Leaves,  including  the 
leaf  sheaths;  (3)  the  body  of  the  cane  after  the  tops  and  leaves  have 

been   removed.     This  body  of  the  cane  contains  nearly  all  of  the  juice, 

and  practically  all  of  the  sugar. 


47 

A  ton  of  sorghum  as  it  grows  is  composed  of  these  three  parts  in 
about  the  following  average  proportions  : 

Topped  and  cleaned  cane pounds . .   1, 500 

Tops do....       300 

Leaves  and  sheaths do '200 

Total 2,000 

The  juice  constitutes  about  *00  per  cent,  of  the  topped  and  cleaned 
cane.  Analytical  estimates  aud  the  estimates  of  the  sugar  factory  are 
based  on  the  ton  of  topped  and  cleaned  cane.  In  order  to  place  the 
matter  clearly  before  the  reader,  and  at  the  same  time  to  compare  the 
amount  of  sugar  contained  in  Louisiana  cane  with  that  contained  in 
sorghum,  and  to  make  other  studies  of  the  subject,  I  have  computed 
from  the  analytical  tables  of  the  United  States  Department  of  Agri- 
culture the  weights  of  "  cane  sugar,"  "  grape  sugar,"  and  soluble  solids 
"  not  sugar,"  found  to  exist  in  the  ton  of  topped  and  cleaned  sorghum 
for  the  years  1883-'87,  and  in  the  ton  of  cleaned  Louisiana  cane  for 
the  years  1884-'8G. 

u  Cane  sugar,"  "grape  sugar,"  and  soluble  solids  "  not  .sugar"  contained  in  a  ton  of  cleaned 
sorghum  and  cleaned  Louisiana  cane. 

[Computed  from  the  analytical  tables  of  the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture,  the  weight  of 
juice  1><  log  assumed  at  1,800  poonds  per  too  In  either  cane.  1 


1883. 

1884.                1885. 

188G. 

1887. 

Means. 

Constituents. 

Soi  ghum. 

Louisiana 
oane.* 

Sorghnm.1 

Louisiana 

eane. 

- 
— 

u 

$ 

a 
a 

£  ■: 

r.   - 

V 

bum. 

Louisiana 

Soi  {hum. 

Louisiana 
eane. 

a 

•z 

— 

5 

<■ 

e8 

a* 

■   3 

"Z  i 

h3 

Cane  sugar 

I.hs.     Lbs. 
L62.70 

Lbs. 

243.00 

Lbs. 
171.80 

Lbs. 
183.10 

Lbs. 
23a  00 

Grape  sugar 73.41 


T.»tai  sugars 
Nol  sugar 


. . . .  236.  11    287.  22  242.  66  227.  4s  238.  on  250.  82  254.  01 


244  89 


Total  soluble  solids 


04.41    47.  SS    50.00     I;  ' 40.  97    41.  16 


36L 64 290. 54 277.  18282.0030;    - 


.  296.62 


*  No  record. 

i  The  irriter  made  a  series  of  analyst  grown  near  Sterling,  Cans.,  In  1884,  taking  the  juice 

as  it  came  from  the  crusher  in   the  regit]  i\    -  OUM  of  in .111  uf.it- tin «'.     The  nn  an  of  these  from  the  liist 

mill  gave  222  12  pounds  of  sogai  per  ton  of  oane.  [n  his  report  of  the  ejop  of  1884  Dr.  Wiley  says  the 
lam1  on  which  the  cane  analyzed  bj  him  and  ineluded  in  the  above  summaiy  was  grown  had  atop- 
<li-  ising  of  about  LOO  pounds  of  superphosphate  pel   1 

[MPROYING  nn:  shed. 


The  study  of  this  table  in  most  interesting.  The  first  and  most  im- 
portant observation  is  of  the  wide  differences  in  the  sorghum  canes  ex 
amined,  there  being  a  variation  of  L02.2  pounds  of  cane  sugar  per  ton 
from  L883  to  L884.  Every  practical  Bugar-maker  knows  that  the  differ- 
ence in  the  available  sugar  is  greater  than  the  actual  difference  shown 
in  these  analyses.  Again,  the  oane  sugar  contained  in  the  sorghnm  of 
1881  exceeded  that  in  the  Louisiana  cam' of  any  year  of  the  record. 


48 

If  a  naturalist  were  seeking  a  plant  whose  record  indicated  that  it 
would  yield  readily  to  the  influences  of  cultivation,  a  plant  which  might 
be  changed  iu  its  characteristics,  he  would  select  one  showing  just  such 
extreme  variations  as  this.  L  is  doubtless  necessary  only  to  reproduce 
the  conditions,  whatever  they  may  have  been,  under  which,  the  crop  of 
1SS4  was  produced  to  reproduce  like  results.  These  conditions  may  be 
no  more  difficult  to  attain  than  those  wJiich  produce  the  average  crop. 
This  branch  of  the  subject  invites  study  and  experiment.  The  oppor- 
tunity doubtless  exists  to  build  up  the  sugar-producing  properties  of 
sorghum-making  improvements  not  inferior  to  those  by  which  the  Euro- 
peans have  made  the  sugar-beet  a  most  valuable  source  of  sugar. 

In  this  connection,  I  can  do  no  better  than  to  produce  and  second  the 
remarks  of  Dr.  Wiley,  in  his  report  for  1883,  on  Improvement  by  Seed 
Selection. 

I  cam  fully  convinced  that  t  lie  Government  should  undertake  the  experiments  which 
have  in  view  the  increase  of  tho  ratio  of  sucrose  to  other  substances  in  the  juice. 
These  experiments,  to  be  valuable,  must  continue  under  proper  scientific  direction  for 
a  number  of  years.  The  cost  will  be  so  great  that  a  private  citizen  will  hardly  be 
willing  to  undertake  the  expense. 

The  history  of  the  improvement  lu  the  sugar  beet  should  be  sufficient  to  encourage 
(ill  similar  efforts  with  sorghum. 

The  original  forage  be.  t,  from  which  the  sugar  beet  has  been  developed,  contained 
only  5  or  G  per  cent,  of  sucrose.  The  sugar  beet  now  will  average  Id  per  cent. .of 
Bucrose.  It  seems  to  me  that  a  few  years  of  careful  selection  may  secure  a  similar 
improvement  in  sorghum. 

It  would  bo  a  long  step  toward  the  solution  of  the  problem  to  secure  a  sorghum  that 
would  average,  field  for  field,  12  per  cent,  sucrose  and  only  2  percent,  of  other  sugars, 
and  with  such  cane  the  greal  difficulty  would  be  to  make  sirup  and  not  sugar.  Those 
varieties  and  individuals  of  each  variety  of  cane  wh'ch  show  the  best  analytical 
results  should  be  carefully  selected  for  svn\,  and  this  selection  continued  until  acci- 
dental variations  become  hereditary  qualities  in  harmony  with  the  well-known. prin- 
ciples <>!'  descent. 

If  these  experiments  in  selection  could  be  made  in  different  parts  of  the  country, 

and  especially  by  the  various  agricultural  stations  and  colleges,  they  would  have 
additional  value  and  force.  In  a  country  whose  soil  and  climate  are  as  dj versified  as 
jn  this,  results  obtained  in  one  locality  are  not  always  reliable  for  another. 

If  some  unity  of  act  ion  could  in  this  way  be  established  among  bhose-engaged  in 
agricultural  research,  much,  t  ime  and  labor  would  be  saved  and  more  Valuable  results 
be  (d)tained. 

A  VALUABLE  CONTENT  OF   SORGHUM   DANE. 

The  grape-sugar  con  ten!  of  sorghum  is  very  large.    When  freed  from 

BUCh  of  tin-  "  not  sugar"  products  as  have  an  unpleasant  taste,  this  con- 
stitutes an  elegant  simp  constituent,     it  is  composed  chiefly  of  two 

sugars,  called,  respectively,  dextrose  and  levuloso.     The  last  is  sweeter 

than  cane  sugar.  This  -rape  Bugar  is  that  to  which  most  sweet  fruits 
owe  their  sweetness.  The  large  amount  of  it— over  63  pounds  to  the 
ton  of  cane— is  likely  1"  be  recognized  in  the  near  future  as  one  of  the 
most  valuable  contents  of  sorghum  cane. 


49 

IM PE 11 FE C I    S 1 : VAR A TIO N . 

At  present  we  are  able  to  separate  only  a  portion  of  the  cane  sugar 
from  the  other  constituents  of  the  juice.  It  is  believed  to  be  impossible 
by  methods  at  present  used  to  separate  more  than  tbe  difference  between 
the  cane  sugar  and  the  grape  sugar.  Thus  the  sorghum  of  18S3  could 
have  yielded  not  more  than  162.7— 73.44 =89.2G  pounds  per  ton,  while 
that  of  1884  should,  by  the  same  computation  have  yielded  2G4.9— 22.32 
=242.58  pounds  per  ton.  The  available  sugar  in  the  sorghum  crop  of 
1887,  by  the  same  method,  was  171.8—60  =  111.8  pounds,  and  the  av- 
erage available  sugar  in  the  sorghum  for  the  five  years  was  193.1— 
53.55=139.55  pounds.  This  is  supposing  that  the  juice  is  all  obtained 
from  the  cane,  and  that  there  is  no  waste  in  the  subsequent  proce 
At  Fort  Scott,  however,  only  a  little  more  th  in  92  per  cent,  of  the  sugar 
was  obtained  from  the  cane,  so  that  the  above  figures  should  be  multi- 
plied by  .'.>2.  making  the  mean  available  sugar  with  this  extraction  128.38 
pounds,  and  the  available  sugar  of  1887,  102.8  pounds  per  ton  of  cleaned 
cane. 

THE    YIELD    OBTAINED   AT   FORT   SCOTT. 

The  actual  yield  obtained  was  234,607  pounds  of  first  sugar,  from 
2,501  cells.  If,  now,  the  cell  be  taken  as  a  ton,  the  yield  of  fust  sugar 
was 234,C07-i- 2,501  =93.8  pounds.  Enough  of  the  molasses  was  reboiled 
for  a  second  (aop  of  crystals,  and  the  sugar  separated  to  ascertain  that 
1."*  to  20  pounds,  per  ton  of  cane  represented,  could  be  obtained.  Call- 
ing it  15,  we  have  for  the  entire  yield  93.8+15=108.8  pounds  per  ton  of 
cleaned  cane.  This  is  a  larger  yield  than  is  obtainable  according  to  the 
heretofore  accepted  theory.  There  is  some  uncertainty  about  the  weight 
ol'a  cell,  which  may  account  for  the  discrepancy  between  the  theoretical 
and  the  actual  results.  It  is  possible,  however,  that  the  theory  may 
need  reconstruction.  In  any  case  the  yield  actually  obtained  is  most 
gratifying. 

1  have  made  no  mention  in  the  above  of  the  exceptionally  large  \  ields 
of  some  special  strikes  made  during  the  season.  Oue  Strike  gave  109 
pounds  of  merchantable  sugar   for   each  cellful  of  Chips.      The   seconds 

from  this  would  doubtless  have  brought  the  yield  up  to  130  pounds. 
But  the  general  reader  and  the  prospective  manufacturer  are  mora  in- 
terested in  average  than  in  special  results,  [t  seems  safe  to  assume 
that  a  mean  of  1  no  pounds  of  sugar  and  12  gallons  of  molasses  can  be 
made  from  each  ton  of  cleaned  sorghum  cane  of  average  richness 
Science  suggests  several  methods  for  the  complete  separation  of  the 

cane  sugar  from  the  grape  sugar  and  the  "  not  SUgar,"  and  further  <\ 
perimeuts  in  this  direction  should  be  the  work  of  the  near  future.      A.8 
yet  almost   nothing  has  been  done  towards  the  development  of  inelhods 

of  separatiug  the  grape  sugar  from  the  not  sugar,    'flu's  subject  pre- 
sents a  most  inviting  field  tor  the  chemist. 
i;,H!L_ No.  17 1 


50 

THE   FUTURE   OF   THE   SORGHUM-SUGAR   INDUSTRY. 

The  sorghum-sugar  industry  now  seems  to  have  an  assured  future. 
The  quantities  of  sugar  and  molasses,  and  other  valuable  products  ob- 
tained from  each  ton  of  the  cane  and  from  each  acre  of  land,  well  re- 
munerate the  farmer  for  his  crop  and  the  manufacturer  for  his  invest- 
ment and  the  labor  and  skill  required  to  operate  the  factory. 

An  acre  ot  land  cultivated  in  sorghum  yields  a  greater  tonnage  of 
valuable  products  than  in  any  other  crop,  with  the  possible  exception 
of  hay.  I  fader  ordinary  methods  of  cultivation,  10  tons  of  cleaned  cane 
per  acre  is  somewhat  above  the  average,  but  the  larger  varieties  often 
exceed  12,  while  the  small  Early  Amber  sometimes  goes  below  8  tons 
per  acre.  Let  7J  tons  of  cleaned  cane  per  acre  be  assumed  for  the  il- 
lustration. This  corresponds  to  a  gross  yield  of  10  tons  for  the  fanner, 
and  at  $2  per  ton  gives  him  820  per  acre  for  his  crop.  These  7J  tons 
of  clean  cane  will  yield — 

Pounds. 

Sugar 750 

Molasses 1, 000 

Seed 900 

Fodder  (green  leaves) 1,500 

Exhausted  chips  (dried) 1,500 

Total 5,  (i50 

The  first  three  items,  which  are  as  likely  to  be  transported  as  wheat 
or  corn,  aggregate  2,650  pounds  per  acre. 

Sorghum  will  yield  7J  tons  of  cleaned  cane  per  acre  more  surely  than 
corn  will  yield  30  bushels,  or  wheat  15  bushels  per  acre. 

In  the  comparison,  then,  of  products  which  bear  transportation,  these 
crops  stand  as  follows  : 

Sorghum,  at  7J>  tons,2,0o0  pounds  per  acre. 

Corn,a1  30  bushels,  1,680 pounds  per  acre. 

Wheal,  at  L5  bushels,  900  pounds  per  acre. 

The  sugar  from  the  sorghum  is  worth  say  5  cents  per  pound;  the 

molasses,  1  £  cents  per  pound;   the  seed,  \  cent  per  pound. 

The  products  give  market  values  as  follows: 

750  pounds  sugar  at  say  ■".cuts*' (37.50 

1,000  pounds  molasses  al  Bay  l ,  cents* 17.  f)0 

(J00  pounds  seed  at  say  \  cent*    4.  f>0 

Total  value  of  sorghum,  Less  (odder .v.).  .mi 

The  corn  crop  gives  L,680  pounds,  al  |  cenl 3,  10 

The  wheal  crop  giv<  a  900  pounds,  al  I  cenl 9.00 

Thus  it   will  be  seen  that  the  SOrghum  yields  to  the  farmer  more  than 

twice  as  much  per  acre  us  either  of  the  leading  cereals,  and  as  a  gross 

■  The  sugar  sold  t  Ins  \  car  at  •">£  oenta  per  pound,  i  he  molasses  at  20  cents  per  gallon, 

and  i in-  seed  at per  bushel  of  .")<>  pounds.    The  seed  is  of  about  equal  value  with 

com  for  feeding  stock. 


51 

product  ot  agriculture  and  manufacture  on  our  own  soil  more  than  six 
times  as  much  per  acre  as  is  usually  realized  from  cither  of  these  stand- 
ard crops. 

LENGTH    OF    THE   SEASON   FOR   WORKING    SORGHUM. 

The  season  for  harvesting  sorghum  is  limited  to  the  months  during 
which  it  may  be  worked.  At  present,  this  dates  in  oar  southern  coun- 
ties from  about  the  last  of  July  to  the  middle  or  last  of  October,  if  a 
proper  selection  of  varieties  of  cane  has  been  made.  Without  doubt 
this  season  may,  and  will  be,  lengthened.  On  this  point  I  can  do  no 
better  than  quote  from  my  report  to  this  Department  in  1S84 : 

A-.  .shown  by  the  reports  of  the  sugar  factories  of  Kansas  for  the  Last  two  years,  the 
working  season  is  confined  almost  exclusively  to  the  months  of  September  and  I  Octo- 
ber.   When  the  great  cost  of  sugar- works,  the  expense  of  keeping  them  in  repair,  and 

the  salaries  of  the  specialists,  arc  considered,  the  importance  of  lengthening  the  work- 
ing season  becomes  painfully  apparent.  That  a  sl00,()00  factory  should  lie  idle  for 
ten  months  every  year,  implies  that  it  must  bo  ruu  at  an  enormous  profit  during  the 
two  months  or  fail  to  pay  interest  on  the  investment. 

Several  plans  have  been  proposed  for  extending  the  time  during  which  the  works 
may  run.  One  of  these  is  the  development  of  earlier  varieties  of  cane  by  systematic 
selection  of  seed,  cultivation,  and  breeding.  The  researches  of  modern  physiological 
botanists  give  reason  to  hope  for  good  results  in  this  direction. 

Another  plan  proposed  is  to  reduce  the  juice  to  a  semi-sirup  in  small  auxiliary  fac- 
tories, store  the  semi-Birop,  and  make  it  into  sugar  during  the  winter  months.  This 
has  much  to  commend  it. 

STORING  CANES   IN'   SIL08. 

Experiments  have  been  made  repeatedly  in  keeping  canes  in  aheds,  hut  with  indif- 
ferent snecess.  A  good  deal  has  been  done  in  the  line  of  preserving  green  forage  crops 
in  pits,  and  expensive  silos  have  been  made  and  used.  Sorgham  has  been  laid  away 
and  kept  in  these  with  fair  BUCCess. 

A  practical   plan   for  keeping  cane  by  simply  covering  it  with  a  few  inches  ot"  -ml 

lias  been  used  in  three  experiments  now  on  record.  The  first  of  these  was  made  at 
Tilsonbnrg,  Ontario,  in  1831-82,  bj  Mr.  Frank  Stroback,  now  of  Sterling,  Kans.     Mr. 

Stroback  has  kindly  handed  me  a  copy  of  his  record,  which  is  given  below,  with  the 
addition  of  the  column  giving  the  density  of  the  juice  in  degrees  liamne.  to  render 

these  results  mote  easily  comparable  with  tl;e  other  analyses  given  in  this  paper. 

Frank  Stroback's  i  tpeiimeni  in  keeping  cane  in  rilo. 


When  put  in  silo. 


Octoboi  8   1--1 
Docerobi  ■  ■■.  1881 
December  IT.  L882 
March  I     - 


Batu 

Balling. 

11.7(1 

Pulai  laatlon. 

V2.-:s 

The  cane  used  in  this  experiment  was  the  early  amber     The  jo  ice  showed  a  de- 
preciation, Wui  the  results  were  encouraging. 
In  the  fall  of  i--:.  Professor  Wiley,  chief  chemist  of  the  U.S.  Department  ol   ! 

culture,  placed  ;;  t.m  of  '  mi  ly  a  111  her  in  a  shallow  pit,  and  placed  over  it  a  OOVeriug  of 

earth  on  the  grounds  of  the  Department  of  agricull  ore  at  Washington.    In  bis  report 


52 

of  April  22,  1884,  Professor  Wiley  gives  au  account  of  this  experiment,  from  which  the 
following  information  is  taken  : 

The  canes  wore  placed  in  silo  November  12,  IS-:}.  Numerous  analyses  of  juices  of 
canes  similar  to  those  preserved  showed— 

Sucrose,  about  9  per  cent. 

Other  sugars,  about  3  per  cent. 

Professor  Wiley's  analysis  of  cane  from  silo,  January  14,  1834. 

Percentage  of  juice  expressed G8. 9 

Specific  gravity,  8°  B 1.057 

Percentage  of  sucrose 8.  39 

Percentage  of  other  sugars 2. 30 

Analysis  of  cane  from  silo,  February  27,  1884. 

Percentage  of  juice  expressed 73.07 

Specific  gravity 1. 057 

Percentage  of  sucrose 7.  00 

Percentage  of  other  sugars 3. 13 

Analysis  of  cane  from  silo,  April  1,  1884. 

Percentage  of  juice  expressed 73.  81 

Specific  gravity 1.  05 

Percentage  of  sucrose 5. 89 

Percentage  of  other  sugars 3.  7*2 

I  was  greatly  interested  in  these  results,  which  showed  that  the  early  amber  cane 
can  be  kept  during  the  greater  part  of  the  winter  with  very  little  depreciation  of  its 
content  of  sugar. 

In  order  to  extend  tin'  experiment  to  other  varieties,  and  to  test  tin1  possibility  of 
keeping  Kansas  canes  in  silo,  on  October  15,  1884,  I  placed  1  ton  of  Link's  hybrid  and 
1  ton  of  early  orange  in  winrows  between  rows  of  stubble,  and  placed  thereon  a  cov- 
ering of  about  2  inches  of  sandy  soil.  Analyses  were  made  on  the  day  on  which  they 
were  bnried,  and  subsequently,  as  shown  in  the  following  tables: 

Analyses  of  juices  of  canes  kept  in  silo. 


Date. 


t-i 
Oct     1". 

Nov.    tf> 

Nov.  2D 

I--'. 
Jan.   24 


Oct.      16 

Nov.  15 
D 

■  i 

■  i 


Roraarks. 


KARLl    "i;  \ 

( Produced  by  J.  B.  Keeloy,  2  miles  southwest  from  Storl- 

ill!_M 

Cut  yesterday  afiern< ,  buried  to-day 

molded,  canes  green— iuterior  of  oaues  reddened 

to  first  node,  top  and  bol  om    

Appearance  unchanged  since  L5tli  instant  

Appearance  unchanged  since  November 

L86  pounds  cane  gave  100  pounds  juice      63]  peroenton 
li  i ii< l  crusher , 


i. ink  ti  liviann 


('mi  and  buried  to  day  

Leaves  molded,  canes  green    Interior  of  canes  reddened 

to  flrsl  lc,  top  and  bottom  

Appearance  unchanged  since  I5tli  Instant 

Sm f  the  canes  shot*   decomposition  where  thoj  had 

lieell    III   lll-eil 


Tel, 


Small  sample- analyzed 

600  pout                            !  pounds  juice        2  p<  i 
baud  ci                            i  i'\  adding  milk  ol  limo,  boiling 
and  skiromin  j 

Above  boiled  to  17    B.,  hot,  in  open  Bin  pan 


a 

Glucose. 

Sucr. isc. 

11.8 

.  65 

16  62 

10.8 

in.  7 

1.  19 

10.72 

9,  i:> 
11.69 

11.2 

1.80 

L0.  38 

l.  16 

LI.  81 

10.2 

lo.  a 

1.11 
L49 

18.02 
12.26 

1".  7 

a  w 

12.98 

tl    ii 

5  i  i 

11.40 

11.5 

LI.  40 

LL22 

34,  in 

Other 
solids. 


L78 

:;.  90 
1.82 


I.  65 


5.  33 


1.87 
1.88 


3.  (15 
2.91 


t.  28 

10.  L'l 


53 

Samples  of  the  canes  taken  from  the  silo  on  the  2Gth  of  December  were  sent  to 
Professor  Sweuson,  superintendent  of  the  Hutchinson  Sugar  Works.     On  the  4th  of 

January,  1885,  Professor  Swenson  reported  the  following  as  the  results  of  his  exami- 
nation of  the  Link's  Hybrid  cane: 

JUICE. 

Per  cent. 

Sucrose 15. 25 

Glucose 1.10 

Other  solids 3.  94 

ENTIRE   CANE. 

Insoluble  solids 11. 72 

Sucrose 13.73 

Glucose l.'OO 

Other  soluble  solids 'J.  -J.") 

Water 71.00 

Total 100.00 

Mr.  J.  C.  Hart,  superintendent  of  the  farm  of  the  Hutchinson  Sugar  Works,  reported 
the  following  results  of  examinations  of  the  Early  Orange  cane  taken  from  the  silo 
December  26 : 

Analysis  of  January  5,  sucrose  and  glucose  taken  from  diffusion  juice. 

Vev  cent. 

Water ('.?.  7 

[nsolubles „*. ....  L3.9 

Sucrose coo  „=...  14.  8 

Glucose o  ,.  =  .  1.6 

Gums,  etc 2.  0 

Total Km.  (» 

Analysis  of  January  l,from  expressed  juice. 
Sucrose 1  1.  0 

Glucose 3.2 

(J uin,  etc 4.8 

On  the  '.uii  of  January  canes  were^again  taken  from  the  silo  and  submitted  t<>  Prof. 
M.  A.  Scovell,  superintendent  of  the  Sterling  works,  for  analysis.     The  follow  i> 
suits  are  taken  from  his  report  : 

link's  eybrio. 

Amount  of  cams  taken pounds. .    18 

Amount  of  juice  expressed  do. . . .     3 

.Juice „ per  cent  .  .     II  - 

Density  of  juice,  10.6  B. 

Glucose per  cent  ..      5.53 

Sucrose do  — 

ORAKOl  . 

Amount  of  canes  taken pounds. .    19 

Amount  of  juice,   I  pounds per  cent  . .    33} 

Density  of  juice,  l".7  B. 

GluCOSe per  cent 

Suclo.se do -.-I 


54 

Samples  of  the  canes  taken  from  the  silo  on  January  9  were  sent  to  the  Hutchin- 
son Sugar  Works,  to  the  State  Agricultural  college,  and  to  the  State  University  for 
aual\ 

On  January  1*2,  Mr.  J.  C.  Hart,  of  the  Hutchinson  works,  reported  the  following 
average  of  two  analyses,  crushed  juice. 


Orange       Link's  Hy- 

cane.  brid  cane. 

Brix,  22  .    Brix,  21.7°. 


Water 

Insoluble  soli* 
Glucose 

Sip  rose 

Other  .solids  ., 


Per  coit. 

Per  cent. 

69.90 

68.20 

10.50 

12.90 

3.45 

3.20 

12.34 

12.19 

3.81  1 

3.  51 

100.  00 


100.00 


Prof.  Gr.  11.  Fallyer,  professor  of  chemistry  in  the  State  Agricultural  college,  made 
the  following  report  of  his  analyses  of  these  canes  on  January  14: 


tage  ofjuici 
Specific  gravity    - 

Sucrose,  per  rent 

Glucose,  per  cenl 


Snmmarizinj 

as  follows  : 


the  results  of  these  analyses  as  to  cane  sugar,  we  find  that  they  stand 


Date. 


Oct.  15 

Nov.  15 

Nov.  29 

Dec  20 

Jan.  4 

Jan.  5 

Jan.  S 

Jan.  it 

Jan.  12 

Jan.  II 

Jan.  24 

Jan.  29 


Variety  of  cane. 


Link's  Hybrid,  11.21  per  cent  sugar. 
Link's  Hj  brid,  13.02  per  cent.  BUgar. 
Link's  Hybrid,  12.26  per  cent,  sugar. 
Link's  Hybrid,  12. 93  per  cent,  sagar 
Link's  1I.\  brid,  15.  '-'5  per  cent.  BUgar. 


Link's  Hybrid,  '.'.7:;  per  cenl  sugar 

Link's  Hybrid,  12.19  per  cent,  sagar 

Link's  Hybrid,  9.06  per  cent,  sugar  

Link's  Hj  brid,  11.40  per  cent,  sagar 


Variety  of  cane. 


Orange,  15.62  per  cent.  BUgar 
Orange,  10.72  per  cent.  BUgar 
Orange,  '.<  45  per  cent,  augar 
Orange,  11. 6U  per  cent   sugar 


Name  of 

analyst. 


Orange,  1  L8  per  (  mi.  sugar 
Orange,  14.0  pet  «  .  nt.  BUgar 
i  Grange,  8.84  per  cent  sugar  . 
<  »i  ange,  L2.34  per  cent.  BUgar 

( (range,  9.82  per  cent.  BUgar 

Orange,  10.85  per  cent.  BUgar 


Cow  gill, 

Cowgill. 

CowgilL 

<'ow  gill. 

Swenaon. 

Hart. 

Hart. 

ScorelL 

Hart. 

Pailyer. 

Cowgill. 

Cowgill. 


It  should  be  remarked  that  the  samples  taken  from  the  silo,  January  9,  were  those 
which  had  beenmosl  exposed  to  the  action  of  the  sun  and  wind  on  account  of  t  be 
frequent  opening  of  the  sil<>.  This  may  account  for  the  great  depreciation  shown  by 
the  analysis  of  I  hese  samples. 

The  j  nice  obtained  on  January  24  from  the  Early  Orange  cane  was  defecated  with 
milk  of  lime,  boiled,  skimmed,  and  settled,  and  reduced  to  Bemi-sirup,  1?    B.,  hot,  in 

the  QSOal  way  in  <>]>en  fire  pan.      Ii  was  then  taken  into  a  small  vac nn in  pan  and  boiled 

to  nearly  the  crystallizing  point  by  Mr.  Frank  Btrobaok,  an  experienced  sugar-boiler, 

It   was  then   drawn  off  and  set  away    in  a  warm  place,  and  is  crystallizing  into  a  line 

melada. 

The  juice  obtained  on  January  29  from  the  Link's  Sybrid  cane  was  treated  in  a 
manner  precisely  similar  to  that  above  described  for  the  Barlj  Orange, except  that  it 
was  "  boiled  to  grain  "  in  the  vacuum  pan  i>>  Mr.  Btrobaok.    This  was  effected  as  fol- 


55 

lows:  Ten  quarts  of  serai-sirup  were  first  introduced,  and  boiled  in  vacuo  to  the 
crystallizing  density.  A  pint  of  cold  serai-sirup  was  then  added,  and  the  contents 
of  the  pan  again  reduced  to  the  crystallizing  density.  The  process  of  adding  a 
pint  of  semi-sirup  and  reducing  to  the  crystallizing  density  was  repeated  until  the 
boiling  was  complete.  After  a  few  of  these  additions  had  been  made,  a  slight  tur- 
bidity of  the  sirup  was  observed.  On  placing  the  sirup  now  under  a  microscope  and 
examining  it  !>y  transmitted  light,  the  turbidity  was  seen  to  result  from  countless 
microscopic  crystals  of  sugar.  The  subsequent  additions  of  semi-sirup  fed  these 
minute  crystals,  and  they  continued  to  grow  in  size  as  long  as  the  operation  was  con- 
tinned. 

It  is  well  known  to  sugar-boilers  that  it  is  impossible  to  crystallize  in  the  pan  the 
sugar  from  very  poor  juices.  The  success,  therefore,  of  this  las!  experiment  abun- 
dantly verities  the  results  of  the  chemical  analysis,  which  showed  that  this  Link's 
Hybrid  cane  contained  on  the  29th  of  January  very  nearly  the  same  percentage  of 
sugar  as  when  put  away  on  the  15th  of  October.  Mr.  Stroback  states  that  tb< 
tallization  was  as  easily  produced  as  at  any  time  during  the  working  season  of  1884. 

It  is  therefore  fully  established  that  some  varieties  of  sorghum  cane  can  be  pre- 
served in  an  inexpensive  way  without  impairment  of  the  sugar  until  the  hist  of  .Ian- 
nary.  It  is  desirable  that  the  experiment  be  extended  to  other  of  the  late  varieties, 
notably  the  Honduras,  which  yields  15  tons  to  30  tons  per  acre,  but  does  not  perfect  its 
sugar  during  the  regular  fall   working  season. 

CENTRAL  AND   AUXILIARY   FACTORIES— SIZE    OF   FACTORIES. 

The  complete  sugar  factory  is  an  expensive  establishment,  and  while 
most  of  the  work  of  operating  it  can  be  performed  by  laboring  men  of 
ordinary  intelligence,  there  will  be  required  in  each  of  such  factories, 
whether  large  or  small,  at  least  two  men  whose  attainments  will  com- 
mand liberal  compensation.  These  are  the  chemist,  or  the  superintend- 
ent with  a  cheaper  chemist  for  an  assistant,  and  the  sugar-boiler. 
Good  business  management  is  of  course  also  necessary  to  Buccess.  The 
chemist  and  the  sugar-boiler  can  preside  over  a  huge  as  well  as  over 
a  small  factory.  Moreover,  many  of  the  labors  of  the  factory  can  be 
performed  with  no  fewer  men  in  a  small  than  in  a  large  factory.  It  will 
therefore  be  cheaper  to  work  a  given  amount  of  cane  and  to  turn  out  a 
given  amount  of  product  in  large  than  in  small  factories.  The  limit, 
however,  beyond  which  experience  so  far  does  not  warrant  manufact- 
urers to  go  is  believed  to  be  at  a  capacity  of  about  270  tons  ol  cleaned 
cane  per  day. 

In  order  to  use  to  the  best  advantage  the  mm  vices  of  tin-  specialists 
of  the  business,  it  has  been  proposed  to  establish  ;it  convenient  places 
auxiliary  factories  which  shall  carry  the  processes  bo  far  as  i<>  prepare 

simp   for  the  Strike  pan.     This   sirup  will   be  stored   in  suitable  tanks 

or  cisterns  and  worked  for  sugar  after  the  close  of  the  season  foi  hand- 
ling cane.      In  this  way  the  working  BeasOD  U>v  the  central  factory  may 

be  prolonged  to  occupy  almost  the  entire  year.    The  auxiliary  factories 

will  cost   about    half  or  two-thirds  as   niiieh    as    the   complete    factory, 

cajiabie  of  taking  care  of  the  same  amount  of  cane.  A.s  thus  arranged, 
the  central  factory  will,  in  addition  to  its  own  regular  season's  work, 

take  care  Of  the  sirup  from  two  or  three  of  these  simp  factories* 


56 

It  will  doubtless  be  found  economical  to  provide  the  central  factory 
with  sugar  apparatus  of  two  or  three  times  the  capacity  required  to 
lake  care  of  its  own  sirup,  thereby  increasing  the  number  of  auxiliaries 
which  may  be  made  dependent  upon  it.  It  must  not  be  inferred  from 
what  is  here  said  that  the  sugar  factory  can  make  sugar  from  ordinary 
sorghum  molasses.  The  auxiliaries  will  necessarily  be  under  the  super- 
vision of  the  central  factory,  and  the  value  of  its  sirups  will  depend 
upon  the  proper  execution  of  the  processes  of  manufacture.  The  sirups 
from  the  auxiliaries  may  be  transported  to  the  central  factory  in  tank 
ears  or  by  pipe  lines. 

HOW   FAR    MAY    CANE   BE   HAULED? 

The  price  paid  for  cane  delivered  at  the  sugar  factory  has  heretofore 
been  $2  per  ton.  It  needs  only  to  be  stated  that  long  hauls  by  wagon 
would  cost  too  much  to  leave  any  profit  to  the  farmer  at  this  price.  It 
is  doubtful  whether  the  farmer  who  lives  more  than  3  miles  from  the 
factory  can  afford  to  raise  cane  unless  he  can  transport  it  most  of  the 
way  by  rail.  Again,  the  factory  will  easily  obtain  all  it  can  work  from 
farmers  whose  distance  does  not  exceed  2  miles,  and  will  prefer  to 
patronize  these  on  account  of  the  greater  regularity  with  which  they 
can  deliver  their  crops,  as  well  as  the  greater  facility  with  which  the 
supervision  of  the  factory  may  be  extended.  Farmers  living  on  a  line 
of  railroad  may  be  able  to  ship  their  cane  on  such  favorable  terms  as  to 
avail  themselves  of  the  market  at  the  factory.  In  Cuba  and  in  some 
parts  of  Louisiana,  light  railroads  are  constructed  where  the  distance 
is  too  great  for  hauling  on  ordinary  roads.  On  these  a  team  hauls  about 
13  tons  at  a  load. 

The  system  of  central  and  auxiliary  factories  seems,  however,  to  offer 
the  best  solution  tor  the  problem  of  distance. 

CAN  THE  FARMER  MAKE  HIS  OWN  SUGAR  FROM  SORGHUM? 

Several  experimenters  bave  sought  to  answer  this  question  in  a  prac- 
tical way.  The  developments  of  the  last  few  years  have  clearly  estab- 
lished the  fact  that  the  cane  crusher  has  had  its  day.  Hereafter  the 
juice  will    be   extracted    by  the    process   of  diffusion,  whereby  at    least 

double  the  yield  possible  with  crushers  is  obtained,  al  the  same*  time 

giving  a  juice  which  may  be  readily  treated. 

Mr.  II.  A.  Hughes,  of  Rio  Grande,  N.  J.,  has  been  experimenting  with 

a  small  diffusion  battery,  and  has  this  seas  >n  worked  80acresof  sorghum 

with  a  battery  Whose  capacity  18  25  tons  per  day.      I  have  not   received 

Mr.  Hughes' official  report,  but  the  results  claimed  are  fully  as  favor- 
able as  those  obtained  at  Fori  Scott.  His  report  will  be  looked  for 
with  interest. 

Messrs.  I  tensmore  Brothers,  of  Red  Wing.  Minn.,  had  an  evaporating 

apparatus  at  Fori  Scott  during  a  pari  of  the  present  season,  and  made 


57 

small  amounts  of  sugar  from  the  diffusion  juice  of  the  factory.  They 
have  furnished  the  following  report,  which  will  be  of  interest  to  those 
studying  this  part  of  the  subject: 

DEN8MORE8'   REPORT. 

The  John  F.  Porter  steam  evaporator  deserves  special  notice  in  this  report.  It  can 
be  safely  and  economically  employed  by  every  manufacturer  of  sorghum  sirup  and 
sugar.  The  line  of  operation  employed  in  this  evaporator  is  that  of  a  shallow  body 
of  juice  having  a  continuous  How  forward  among  and  over  the  pipes  of  steam-heated 
coils  while  being  purified  and  concentrated. 

The  evaporator  is  composed  of  two  pans  or  compartments,  each  of  which  is  pro- 
vided with  a  coil  of  copper  pipe.  By  reason  of  a  peculiar  but  simple  method  of  ap- 
plying steam  to  these  coils,  the  development  and  throwing  out  of  scum  and  imparities 
is  begun  as  soon  as  the  juice  enters  the  evaporator,  and  is  kept  up  until  the  jnice  is 
thoroughly  purged  of  all  impurity.  Tin?  scum  collects  along  one  side  of  each  pan, 
and  within  an  average  distance  of  8  inches  from  the  point  where  it  was  developed, 
and  is  removed  from  the  pan  as  required  by  a  simple  and  effective  arrangement  of 
skimmers. 

While  purification  has  been  in  progress  the  juice  has  been  concentrated  to  a  heavy 
semi-sirup,  which  is  then  finished  to  the  desired  density. 

The  line  of  operation  is  continuous  and  uninterrupted,  the  juice  being  admitted  to 
and  the  finished  product  escaping  from  the  evaporator  in  a  continuous  stream. 

During  the  month  of  September  last  one  of  the  largest  of  these  evaporators  was  set 
up  and  operated  at  the  Parkinson  Sugar  Works,  Fort  Scott,  Kans.,  by  the  manufact- 
urers for  the  purpose  of  investigating  the  adaptation  of  the  principle  therein  em- 
ployed to  the  manufacture  of  sugar,  and  with  special  inquiry  as  to  the  percent,  or 
amount  of  inversion  of  sugar  which  it  might  cause. 

four  runs  or  tests  were  made  with  this  question  in  view,  and  the  results— given  in 
ratio  of  glucose  to  sucrose — were  as  follows: 

Test  No.  1.— Juice 1  of  glucose  to  3.24  of  sucrose. 

Finished  product 1  u  3.05  " 

Test  No.  2.— Juice 1  "  3.29 

Finished  product 1  "  ::.v>7  •* 

Test  No.  3. — Juice I  "  •'..:!."»  " 

1'inished  product 1  "  3.36  " 

Test  No.  4.— Juice 1  "  3.60  " 

Finished  product 1  "  u 

Deductions  from  these  results  show  as  follows:  in  the  first  test,  a  loss  by  inversion 

of  a  little  over  1  per  cent.  :  in  tin-  second  and  third  tests  there  was  practically  no 
loss,  and  in  the  fourth  test  a  lo^s  of  less  than  a  third  of  1  per  cent.      The  average  l"vs 

on  the  four  testa  was  Less  than  three-eighths  of  l  per  cent.  Practically,  this  process 
causes  no  inversion  of  the  Bucrose  of  the  juii 

To  the  wants  of  the  simp  manufacturer,  the  Porter  evaporator  is  fully  adapted  in 
every  essential  and  particular  necessary  to  success.  It  works  rapidly  and  produces  a 
sirup  «»f  bright  color  ami  best  quality.  It  is  easily  operated,  and  the  line  of  opera- 
tion is  wholly  within  the  control  of  the  operator,  whether  working  for  sirup  or 
sugar. 

Mr.  A.  A.  Denton  made  Borne  experiments  in  air  evaporation  at  the 
Sterling  Sirup  Works,  and  lias  famished  the  following  report  of  bis 

apparatus  and  operations : 

DEMI  on's  R]  pob  i. 

The  stei  ling  Sirup  Works  have  made  careful  testa  of  two  forms  of  air  ei  aporat  ing 
apparatus  io  manufacturing  sirup  tins  season,  and  believe  the  results  are  of  unpor< 


58 

tance  to  the  cane  industry,  as  they  show  that  a  cheap  and  easily-managed  apparatus 
for  evaporating  at  a  Low  temperature,  suited  to  the  use  of  thousands  of  small  facto- 
ries, may  be  found  in  machines  for  drying  or  evaporating  semi-sirup  by  hot  air  :  and 
the  method  seems  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  dry  air  of  the  Western  States  and  Terri- 
tories. 

The  first  form  of  apparatus  wo  used  consisted  of  a  liquid-carrier,  whieh  had  329 
square  feet  of  surface,  inclosed  in  a  box  or  case  3  feet  wide  by  2  feet,  and  14  feet 
high,  placed  upon  a  square  tank  which  held  300  gallons  of  sirup.  The  liquid-carrier 
passed  continuously  through  the  sirup  in  the  tank,  and  its  322  square  feet  of  surface 
were  kept  uniformly  wet  with  sirup  in  thin  films  by  the  adhesion  of  sirup  to  the 
surfaces.  A  fair  forced  a  blast  of  air  through  all  the  surfaces  of  the  liquid-carrier. 
Hot  sirup  from  the  finishing  pan  was  ruu  into  the  tank,  and  was  immediately  spread 
over  the  322  square  feet  of  surface  on  the  liquid-carrier  by  the  motion  of  the  liq aid- 
carrier,  where  it  came  in  contact  with  the  current  of  air.  The  result  was  that  con- 
siderable water  escaped  from  the  hot  sirup  in  the  form  of  steam,  instead  of  condens- 
ing in  the  sirup,  as  it  does  when  hot  sirup  is  cooled  in  the  ordinary  way.  and  this 
increased  the  density  of  the  sirup.  The  blast  of  air  also  absorbed  and  carried  off  con- 
siderable water  from  the  sirup,  and  the  density  of  the  sirup  was  thus  increased  three  or 
four  degrees  by  the  Baumd  saccharometer.  This  was  equivalent  to  boiling  the  sirup  to 
greater  density  without  the  injury  caused  by  the  excessive  heat  necessary  in  boiling 
heavy  sirup.  The  sooner  sirup  is  removed  from  the  heat  of  the  finishing  pan  the 
better  it  is,  and  the  sooner  hot  sirup  is  cooled  the  better  it  is,  for  finished  sirup  is 
hot  enough  to  be  injured  by  the  heat  it  contains  after  it  has  left  the  finishing  pan. 
The  output  of  the  Sterling  Sirup  Works  is  2  to  3  barrels  per  hour,  and  in  previous 
years  we  have  had  trouble  aud  loss  in  cooling  that  quantity  of  sirup  in  steady  day 
and  night  runs.  The  above-described  apparatus  cools  hot  sirup  in  large  quantities, 
and  also  increases  its  density  quickly  and  perfectly.  It  reduced  the  temperature  of 
100  gallons  of  boiling  sirup  from  236  degrees  to  110  degrees  in  five  minutes. 

In  boiling  sirup  we  usually  boil  until  the  sirup  has  a  density  while  hot  of  3.")  to  3(5 
degrees,  as  tested  by  the  Baume*  saccharometer,  but  after  testing  this  apparatus  we 
boiled  only  to  30  degrees,  and  then  reduced  it  to  the  proper  density  by  leaving  it  in 
this  apparatus  exposed  to  the  blast  of  air  until  it  becomes  ;is  dense  as  if  it  had  been 
boiled  to  36  degrees  and  had  then  been  cooled  in  the  ordinary  way.  We  regard  it  as 
an  established  fact,  that  sirup  at  30  Baume*  can  be  evaporated  on  large  surfaces  by 
air  to  any  density  required,  and  also  that  the  color  and  flavor  of  the  sirup  are  bet  ter 
than  when  exposed  longer  to  the  high  heat  of  the  finishing  pan.  By  allowing  the 
sirup  to  remain  for  some  time  in  this  apparatus  the  sirup  was  evaporated  or  dried  by 
the  current  of  air  to  such  density  that  it  was  impossible  to  draw  the  sirup  from  the 
tank  through  a  2-iuoh  outlet  until  it  had  been  diluted.  All  the  sirup  made  this  sea- 
son from  Too  acres  of  cane  was  cooled  ready  to  barrel  and  was  finished  from  densities 
varying  from  30  Baume'  to  :;t;  Banine*  by  air  evaporation  in  this  apparatus.     We  next 

built  an  apparatus  on  the  same  plan  as  the  above-described  apparatus,  except  that  it 
had  no  fan  to  cause  a  current  of  air  ;  the  current  of  air  was  caused  by  heating  the  air 
in  a  furnace,  as  is  done  in  hot-air  fruit  evaporators.  1  lot  air  evaporates  water  much 
more  rapidly  than  cold  air,  and  in  operating  on  thin  or  dilute  sweet  Liquids  it  is  nec- 
essary to  heat  the  aii'  above  the  fermenting  point— above  the  point  where  air  has 
chemical  action  on  the  liquid.  This  is  shown  by  drying  fruit  in  air  at  summer  tem- 
perature ;  the  product  is  t  he  inferior  sun-dried  fruit,  because  the  air  has  acted  chem- 
ically on  t  he  saccharine  Liquid  in  the  fruit;  but  when  fruit  is  dried  i»\  hot  sir,  as  in 

the  modern  fi  ni  t  -e\  apoi  aim  s,  the  product  is  perfect,  because  hot  air  has  no  chemical 
act  ion  on  I  lie  sweet  liquid  in  t  he  fruit.  This  hot-air  apparatus  had  273  square  feet  of 
Surface  covered  with  semi  sir  up  in  thin  films,  and  exposed  to  a  current  of  hoi  air  which 
absorbed  and  carried  off  t  he  water  of  t  he  sirup.  In  this  a p pa  rat  us  cane  juice  which 
bad  been   boiled  until   the  scum  was  white  and   free  from  green  color  was  evaporated 


59 

to  heavy  sirup  by  hot  air.  The  caue  juice  was  boiled  to  a  density  of  from  20  to  25 
degrees  Baunie,  according  to  the  quality  of  the  juice,  and  as  was  necessary  to  clarify 
the  juice,  aud  only  boiled  as  long  as  it  was  necessary  to  skim  the  boiling  juice.  It 
was  then  dried,  or  evaporated  by  hot  air,  at  a  temperature  of  130  to  140  degrees,  until 
it  became  dense  sirup.  It  is  probable  that  it  would  have  been  better  to  have  had  a 
temperature  of  140  to  180  degrees,  which  is  the  best  temperature  for  evaporating  fruit 
by  hot  air,  and  which  is  the  usual  temperature  in  vacuum-pan  boiling.  In  the  cold- 
air  apparatus  it  was  necessary  to  boil  the  juice  until  it  had  such  density  that  air  at 
summer  temperature  would  not  act  chemically  upon  the  sirup  or  ferment  it.  and  then 
finish  the  evaporation  by  air  at  ordinary  temperature. 

In  the  hot-air  apparatus  it  was  necessary  to  boil  the  juice  only  long  enough  to 
clarify  it,  and  then  finish  the  evaporation  by  air  heated  above  the  point  of  chemical 
action  or  fermentation.  To  illustrate  this  point:  Ordinary  sirup  may  be  exposed  to 
air  at  summer  temperature  without  change  or  fermentation,  while  a  dilute  sweet 
liquid  exposed  to  air  at  summer  temperature  would  be  chemically  changed  :  but  a 
dilute  sweet  liquid  exposed  to  air  heated  to  150  degrees,  which  is  the  scalding-point, 
would  not  ferment— it  would  evaporate  to  sirup. 

This  hot-air  apparatus  had  -J7;5  square  feet  of  surface,  inclosed  in  a  box  3  by  2  feet 
and  (J  feet  high.  At  a  temperature  of  140  degrees  it  evaporated  1  pound  of  water 
per  hour  from  each  square  foot  of  surface — that  is,  it  evaporated  273  pounds  of  w  ater 
per  hour  at  140  degrees.  A  gallon  of  cane  juice  weighs  8.8  pounds.  Reducing  7  gal- 
lons of  cane  juice,  or  Gl.G  pounds  of  juice,  to  1  gallon  of  heavy  sirup  at  sugar  density 
weighing  13  pounds  to  the  gallon,  requires  the  evaporation  of  48.6  pounds  of  water 
for  each  gallon  of  sirup.  Where  the  evaporation  from  cane  juice  to  heavy  sirup  is 
entirely  performed  by  hot  air.  the  hot-air  apparatus  gives  •"»'  gallons  of  sirup,  weigh- 
ing 13  pounds  to  the  gallon,  per  hour,  as  the  product  of  the  evaporation  from  273 
square  feel  of  surface  in  a  current  of  air  at  140  degrees.  When  cane  juice  is  boiled 
to  a?  density  of  20  to  25  degrees  Banme*  in  order  to  clarify  it,  and  the  hot-air  apparatus 
is  only  required  to  finish  the  evaporation,  it  produces  from  Ifl  to  15  gallons  of  heavy 
sirup  per  hour,  for  the  greater  part  of  t  he  evaporation  has  been  performed  by  boiling. 

The  hot-air  apparatus  above  described  is  of  a  size  and  capacity  suited  to  a  two- 
horse  cane-mill.  It  would  finish  the  semi-sirup  produced  b\  such  a  mill  to  heavy 
Kirup,  using  a  temperature  of  140  degrees  instead  of  240  degrees,  which  is  required  in 
finishing  heavy  sirup  by  boiling. 

'the  principle  of  the  air-evapoi  a!  ing  apparatus  i-.  that  evaporation  is  as  rapid  from 

large  surfaces  exposed  to  air  at  comparatively  low  temperature  as  from  small  surfaces 

intensely  heated,  ami  that  in  evaporating  dilute  sweet  liquids  it  is  necessary  to  heat 
the  air  above  the  point  of  chemical  action  upon  the  liquid.  Solid  substances  have 
large  qnantit  ies  <>l  water  removed  from  them  by  exposing  Large  surfaces  to  the  e\  apo- 
rating  action  of  the  air.    A  bushel  of  apples  weighing  50  pounds  is-  reduced  by  hot 

air  to  (I  pounds  of  perfect  product.  The  same  can  be  done  with  Liquids  under  similar 
conditions.      As  a  result  of  these    experiments  we  intend   to  build   hot-air   apparatus 

enough  to  reduce  all  our  semi-sirup  to  sirup  by  hoi  air  next  season. 
If  the  question  be  asked,  u  Can  the  farmer  profitably  make  his  own 

sugar  !"  i.  ,..  make  sugar  for  his  OWI1  use  in  a  small  way,  I  apprehend 
that  the  answer  should  be  much  the  same  as  would  he  given  to  the  ques- 
tion, uOan  the  farmer  profitably  make  his  own  woolen  goods  or  his  own 
Hour  \n      I!',  indeed.  I  have  succeeded  in  the  preceding  pages  in  eon\  r\  - 

in^  an  adequate  ideaof  what  sugar-making  is,  I  apprehend  that  my 
readers  will  omit  to  ask  the  questions  about  manufacturing  in  a  very 

small  way. 

The  tanner  who  is  so  fortunate  as  to  In-  near  a  SUgar  factory  can  do 
much    better   than    to  erect    and    try  to  operate  BUgar  machinery  on  a 


60 

small  scale.  An  acre  of  good  sorghum  delivered  at  the  factory  will  pay 
for  a  barrel  of  nice  nearly-white  sugar.     The  farmer  who  is  not  so  for 

tunately  situated  will  probably  try  to  induce  some  company  to  erect  a 
factory  near  him,  or  will  join  with  his  neighbors  in  forming  a  company 
for  the  purpose  of  building  a  factory  as  soon  as  the  skilled  labor  neces- 
sary for  its  operation  can  be  secured,  thereby  providing  not  only  his 
own  sugar  from  his  own  soil,  but  at  the  same  time  a  sure  and  steady 
market  for  the  most  certain  and  profitable  crop  he  can  raise. 

SUGAR  REFINERIES. 

The  sugar  produced  by  the  processes  herein  described  is  light,  but 
not  white,  in  color.  Its  sweetening  power  is  not  surpassed  by  any  raw 
sugar,  and  its  taste  is  very  agreeable.  The  demand  of  the  age  is,  how- 
ever, for  the  best  possible  goods,  and  sorghum  sugar  must  be  refined  to 
the  purest  whiteness,  and  made  into  the  various  conditions  demanded 
by  the  market. 

To  do  this  requires  the  work  of  the  sugar  refinery.  The  largest  of 
the  central  factories  soon  to  be  erected  will  doubtless  be  provided  with 
refining  facilities,  and  when  located  at  convenient  shipping  centers  will 
be  developed  into  large  refineries  as  rapidly  as  the  raw  sugar  can  be 
obtained  to  give  them  work. 

CONCLUSION. 

There  seems  to  be  no  doubt  but  that  there  is  here  developed  an  in- 
dustry of  vast  importance  to  our  State  and  nation.  For  the  year  end- 
ing Juue  30,  1886,  there  was  consumed  in  the  United  States  foreign 
grown  and  manufactured  sugar  amounting  to  2,689,881,765  pounds.* 
If  two  thousand  new  sugar  factories  were  at  onee  erected,  and  each 
should  produce  an  annual  product  of  one  and  a  quarter  million  pounds 
of  sugar,  they  would  not  supply  the  place  of  the  sugars  now  imported. 

The  annual  consumption  of  sugar  per  capita  in  the  [Jutted  States  is 
about  56  pounds.  The  population  of  Kansas  may  be  taken  as  L, 500,000. 
These  people  consume  each  year  oil  x  L  ,500,000  =  84,000,000  pounds  of 
sugar.  It  will  be  safe  t>  say  that  the  annual  average  product  of  the 
factories  will  not  exceed  1,500,000  pounds,  so  that  fifty-six  factories  will 
be  required  to  supply  the  sugar  consumed  by  the  present  population  of 
Kansas,  and  for  which  they  pay  over  $5,000,000  annually. 

Process  S  whereby  sugar  can  be  made  at  a  profit  from  sorghum  have 
been  worked  out.  These  are  far  from  perfect,  but  present  develop- 
ments give  promise  of  others  in  the  near  future,  and  will  enable  US  to 
produce  our  own  sugar  on  our  sod,  with  the  labor  of  our  people.  Those 
who  invest  in  the  new  industry  will  be  cautious  about  experimenting 

with  unknown  conditions.      Kansas   is    therefore    likely  to    lead    in    the 

development,  and  become  the  first  Northern  sugar  State. 

'Address  of  Dr.  II.  W.  Wiley  before  the  Chemical  Society, December 9,  L886. 


LETTERS  PATENT  CHANTED  TO  M.  SWENSON. 


I'm  ted  States  Department  of  Agriculture, 

Commissioner's  Office, 
Washington,  D.  C,  December  10,  1SS7. 

Sir:  In  response  to  the  resolution  of  the  Senate  of  the  7th  instant, 
directing  me  to  inform  the  Senate  whether  any  person  in  tin*  employ  of 
this  Department  has  applied  for  or  obtained  a  patent  on  any  process 
connected  with  certain  experiments  in  the  manufacture  of  sugar  from 
sorghum,  conducted  under  the  auspices  of  the  Government,  I  have  the 
honor  to  make  the  following  statement  of  facts: 

For  the  tiscal  year  18S0-787  Congress  made  an  appropriation  of  *[U,000 
for  ''continuing  and  concluding  experiments  in  the  manufacture  of  sngar 
by  the  diffusion  and  saturation  process,  from  sorghum  and  sugar-cane.71 
By  virtue  of  this  appropriation  the  Commissioner  appointed,  under  date 
of  duly  19,  1886,  -Mr.  Magnus  Swenson  "an  agent  of  this  Department 
to  superintend,  under  the  direction  of  the  chemist,  the  experiments  in 
the  manufacture  of  sugar  from  sorghum  at  Fort  Scott,  Ivans. "' 

In  his  report  to  me,  under  date  of  December 21,  1886,  Professor  Wi- 
ley, the  cbief  chemist  of  this  Department,  in  detailing  the  experiments 
above  alluded  to,  stated  that  an  acidity  existed  in  the  diffusion  bath, 
causing  a  conversion  of  a  portion  of  sucrose  (sugar)  into  glucose,  and  that 
several  experiments  had  been  made  to  correct  this  acidity.    Among 

those  experiments  was  one  in  which  he  added  u  freshly  precipitated  car- 
bonate of  lime  to  the  extraction  bottle,"  a  method  which  he  states  was 

suggested  by   Professor    Swenson.      At    the   clOSC  Of  these  expel  inieUts. 

November  L5,  L886,  Mr.  Swenson's  service  ceased.  On  April  27,  L887, 
lie  was  again  appointed  "superintendent  of  sugar  experiments  at  Fort 
Sott.  Kans.,"'  which  position  in*  dow  holds.    On  October  21,  1887,  I 

was  informed  that  Professor  3wen80n  wis  seeking  a  patent  for  the 
process  which    he    had    suggested    afl  above   stated,   and    while   in   the 

line  of  his  duty  ami  which  had  been  tried  in  a  public  experiment  with 

the  people's  money  and  for  the  benefit  of  the  country.      On  that  date  1 

tiled  with  the  Commissioner  of  Patents  mv  protest  against  any  action 

on   the   part  <>f  his   office   b\   which    ProfeSSOl  >n,  as    an    individ 

ual,  should  reap  the  benefit  of  this  experiment     in  answer  to  that 

Letter  1  received    a  coimnuuicat  ion   from  t  he  ( 'ommis^iom-r  ^\'  Patents, 

61 


62 

under  date  of  October  2ti,  stating  that  Professor  S  wen  son  bad  been  al- 
lowed letters  patent  on  the  process,  under  date  of  October  11,  18S7.  In 
that  patent  the  following  claims  were  allowed  to  Professor  Swenson  : 

(1)  As  an  improvement  in  the  diffusion  process  of  making  sugar,  the  mode  herein 
described  of  preventing  the  invertive  action  of  the  organic  acids  in  the  cane  chips 
upon  the  sugar  during  the  process  of  extraction,  said  mode  consisting  in  adding  to 
the  diffusion  bath  a  carbonate  of  the  alkaline  earths,  substantially  as  set  forth. 

(*2)  As  an  improvement  in  the  diffusion  process  of  making  sugar,  the  mode  herein 
described  of  preventing  the  invertive  action  of  the  organic  acids  in  the  cane  chips 
upon  the  sugar  during  the  process  of  extraction,  said  mode  consisting  in  adding  to 
the  diffusion  bath  calcium  carbonate,  substantially  as  set  forth. 

The  application  for  this  patent  was  filed  on  December  29,  1S8G,  after 
Professor  Sweuson's  employment  by  the  Government  had  ceased,  but 
the  nature  of  the  claims  is  so  closely  allied  to  the  experiment  made 
with  carbonate  of  lime,  heretofore  alluded  to,  that  it  seems  to  leave  no 
doubt  that  Professor  Swenson  intended  to  cover  in  his  patent  the  sug- 
gestion which  he  made  in  the  line  of  his  duty,  which  was  adopted  during 
his  employment,  and  which  amounted  only  to  an  improvement  in  a 
process  which  had  been  conceived,  planned,  and  was  then  being  perfected 
by  the  Government  of  the  United  States. 

I  deem  it  proper  to  add  that  I  have  had  an  exhaustive  search  made 
of  judicial  decisions  and  legal  opinions  bearing  upon  the  validity  of  a 
patent  granted  under  these  circumstances,  and  that  I  have  become  con- 
vinced that  the  state  of  the  art,  and  the  fact  of  Mr.  Sweuson's  appoint- 
ment and  employment  by  this  Department,  will  affect  the  validity  of  his 
claim,  and  that  I  have  therefore  called  the  attention  of  the  Attorney- 
General  to  all  the  facts  in  the  case  and  suggested  to  him  the  institution 
of  a  suit  looking  to  a  perpetual  injunction  to  restrain  Professor  Swenson 
from  making  any  use  of  this  patent. 

As  bearing  upon  this  case,  I  beg  respectfully  to  inclose,  as  an  appen- 
dix to  this  communication,  certain  citations  and  memoranda  for  the  in- 
formation of  the  Senate,  and  in  this  connection  1  beg  also  to  recommend 
such  immediate  action  on  the  part  of  the  legislative  branch  of  the  Gov- 
ernment as  will  enable  the  Attorney*  ieneial,  il'he  has  not  now  sufficient 
authority,  to  institute  a  suit  looking  to  the  cancellation  of  the  patent  in 
question. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Norman  J.  Colman, 
Commissioner  of  Agriculture, 

lion.  John  J.  Ingalls, 

President  pro  tempore  United  States  Senate* 


63 

ICopy  of  statement  of  facts  submitted  to  the  Attorney-General  for  his  information  by  the  Commis- 
sioner of  Agriculture.] 

Letters  Patent,  No.  371528,  issued  to  Magnus  Sweuson.     Manufacture  of  sugar. 

STATEMENT   OF    FACTS. 

The  Department  of  Agriculture  directed  its  attention  to  the  manufacture  of  sugar 
from  maize  and  sorghum  cane  in  the  year  1877,  and  since  that  time  has  continuously 
been  engaged  in  investigations  and  experiments  for  the  purpose  of  discovering  a  pro- 
cess that  would  extract  the  sugar  from  these  canes  in  a  commercially  successful  man- 
ner.   These  experiments  have  been  carried  on  by  direct  authorization  of  Congress. 

The  first  session  of  the  Forty-seventh  Congress  appropriated,  "  For  experiments  in 
the  manufacture  of  sugar  from  sorghum,  beets,  and  other  sugar-producing  plants, 
twenty  five  thousand  dollars."     (Stat.  L.,  vol.  22,  p.  91.) 

The  same  Congress  at  its  second  session  appropriated  $16,000  (vol.  22,  p.  410)  ;  the 
Forty-eighth  Congress  at  its  first  session  appropriated  $50,000  (vol.  23,  p.  38),  and  at 
its  second  session,  840,000  (vol.  23,  p.  3">4)  for  the  same  purpose.  In  1883  the  chemist 
of  the  Department  conceived  the  idea  of  adapting  the  "diffusion  process,"  success- 
fully used  in  Europe  in  the  manufacture  of  beet  sugar,  to  the  extraction  of  sugar 
from  sorghum  and  maize  cane.  The  results  of  the  experiments  carried  on  in  this  di- 
rection during  the  year  1883  are  continued  in  special  Bulletins  Nos.  2  and  3,  issued  by 
the  Chemical  Division  of  the  Department  in  l?i84. 

Further  investigations  were  made  during  the  year  18--4,  and  a  chemist  from  the 
Chemical  Division  was  sent  to  Europe  to  study  the  "diffusion  process"  as  practiced 
there  and  the  machinery  used  in  its  application.  The  results  of  the  work  for  this 
year  are  fully. set  out  in  Bulletin  No.  5.  Bulletin  No.  6  contains  a  record  of  the  work 
for  the  year  18-",. 

In  the  fall  of  1885  Professor  Wiley,  chemist  of  the  Department,  was  directed  to 
proceed  to  Europe  to  study  the  "diffusion  process."  Bulletin  No.  8  gives  the  result 
of  his  visit  there  and  conclusions  reached  as  to  the  proper  adaptation  of  process  and 
machinery  to  manufacture  sugar  in  this  country  from  sorghum  oane  by  the  "diffusion 
process." 

Asa  result  of  the  investigations  and  experiments  brought  down  to  1880,  this  De- 
partment felt  convinced  that  it  had  reached  a  satisfactory  solution  of  sugar  manu- 
facture, as  applied  to  sorghum,  and  that  it  had  secured  a  successful  method  and 
devised  suitable  machinery  to  establish  this  work  as  <mo  of  the  commercial  industries 
of  the  country.  To  test  the  process  and  the  machinery  devised  on  a  commercial 
scale,  an. 1  lor  the  purpose  of  perfecting  by  experiments  any  defect  that  might  arise 
either  in  the  chemical  progress  of  the  process  or  mechanical  arrangement  of  the 
machinery,  the  Department  received  from  Congress  an  appropriation  for  these  pur- 
poses. 

On  June  30,  18^0,  there  was  appropriated  as  follows:  "For  purchase,  erection, 
transportation,  and  operation  of  machinery,  and  necessarj  traveling  within  the 
United  States,  and  other  expenses  in  continuing  and  concluding  experiments  in  the 
man  u  fact  arc  of  sogar,  bj  the  •  diffusion  and  sat  in  at  ion  processes,'  from  sorghum  and 
sugar  oane,  so  much  thereof  as  may  be  aeoessary  to  be  immediately  available,  |9 1,000." 
(Stat.  L.,  vol.23,  p.  101.) 

Under  this  act  of  Congress  the  Commissioner  of  Agriculture  on  the  loth  of  July, 
employed  and  appointed  on. ■  Magnus  Swenson  to  •' superintend,  under  the  di- 
rect ion  of  the  chemist,  the  experiments  in  the  manufact  are  of  sogar  from  sorghum  at 

Fort  Scott,    Kans,"  ;,t    a  talarj    Of  |2,  100  per  annum,   during  the  continuance  of  the 
experiments.      A    OOpyof    this  appointment    is  hereto  appended.      (Exhibit  A.) 

The  experiments  carried  on  under  the  foregoiog  act  of  Congress  last  mentioned  are 

Het  out  in  detail  in  Bulletin  No.  1  I,  a  oopj  of  \\  lii.h  is  appended.      |  Exhibit  H.) 

In  the  course  of  these  experiments  a  difficulty  was  met  with,  described  on  page  88 
of  Exhibit  B,  namely,  an  acidity  in  the  diffusion  battery,  which  caused  an  lnv< 


64 

of  a  portion  of  sucrose  into  glucose,  thereby  diminishing  the  amount  of  sugar  that 
should  be  obtained.  On  the  same  page  are  detailed  the  experiments  made  to  over- 
come this  defect.  Experiment  No.  4,  "  the  addition  of  freshly  precipitated  carbonate 
of  lime  to  the  'extraction  bottle,'"  was  suggested  by  Mr.  Swenson,  the  superintend- 
ent of  the  experiments,  under  the  foregoing  employment.  Comments  on  the  result 
of  this  experiment  will  lie  found  on  pages  32  and  33  of  Bull.  1G. 

Experiments  at  Fort  Scott,  Kans.,  were  discontinued  on  November  15,  1886,  and 
the  service  of  Mr.  Swenson  as  agent  of  this  Department  ceased  on  that  day. 

On  December  29,  188G,  Mr.  Swenson  filed  an  application  for  letters  patent  for  an 
improvement  in  the  manufacture  of  sugar,  and  on  October  11,  1837,  letters  patent  No. 
371538  were  issued  to  him. 

This  patent  is  for  the  use  of  carbonate  of  lime  and  carbonates  of  other  alkaline 
earths  in  the  diffusion  bath  to  prevent  the  invertive  action  of  organic  acids  during 
the  process  of  extraction.  It  is  simply  a  patent  for  experiment  No.  4,  as  made  at 
Fori  Scott,  Kans.,  by  this  Department,  and  set  out  on  page  88  of  Bull.  1G. 

I  am  informed  that  Mr.  Swenson  is  now  threatening  to  prosecute  all  persons  who 
shall  use  the  method  described  ami  covered  by  his  patent,  and  this  Department,  still 
being  engaged  in  experimentation  for  the  manufacture  of  sugar,  will  be  liable  to  Mr. 
Swenson  in  damages  for  using  a  process  discovered  by  itself,  if  the  patent  aforesaid 
is  rightfully  the  property  of  Mr.  Swenson. 

II. 

CONDITION   OF   THE    ART. 

The  aforesaid  patent  is  for  the  use  of  carbonate  of  the  alkaline  earths  to  neutralize 
organic;  acids  present  in  saccharine  solutions,  and  thus  prevent  inversion  of  sucrose 
into  glucose.  This  is  not  new,  and  has  been  known  to  those  engaged  in  the  art  of 
manufacture  of  sugar  for  years,  and  allusions  are  to  be  met  with  to  its  use  in  works 
describing  this  art,  ami  patents  have  been  issued  for  this  same  means  for  neutralizing 
acidity  in  saccharine  solutions  in  England.  A  brief  re  trie  ice  to  some  of  these  will  bo 
made. 

In  a  work  entitled  "Sugar  Growing  and  Refining,"  by  Wigner  and  liarlaud,  pub- 
lished in  London  in  1882,  the  following  allusions  are  made  pertinent  to  this  part  of 
the  art. 

On  page  185,  in  describing  the  diffusion  process,  it  says: 

"In  order  to  insure  the  Holidilicat  ion  in  the  tissues  of  the  soluble  substance  injuri- 
ous to  the  sugar,  ''specially  of  peotine,  which  is  net  coagulated    by  hot   water  alone, 

lime  or  some  other  suitable  agent  may  be  added  bo  the  water  or  liquor." 
On  page  504  of  t  he  same  work,  in  speaking  of  the  alum  process,  it  says  : 
"After  the  separation  of  the  alum  it  is  possible  to  neutralize  the  acid  liquor  with 

chalk  (Carbonate  of  lime)  only,  and  this  has  been  done  on  a  large  scab'  for  a  consider- 
able t  ime.      The  use  of  chalk    has  an  advantage  over  lime  in  that  should  an  eXCi  M  06 

added  it  does  no  barm  to  the  simp  beyond  simply  increasing  the  insoluble  deposit  m  the 
filters." 

A  description   of  the   identical   advantage  claimed    by  Mr.  Swenson    in    his   patent, 

lines  52  to  58,  *  *  *  "  it  is  possible  to  neutralize  the  acid  liquor  with  some  other 
alkaline  body  instead  of  lime;  among  other  substances  which  have  been  tried  for 
this  purpose  air  ammonia,  carbonate  of  ammonia,  baryta,  oarbonate  of  i»  u\  ta,  Btron- 
i ia,  oarbonate  of  strontia,  magnesia,  carbonate  of  magnesia."  Those  are  the  carbon- 
ates of  alkaline  earths  mentioned  in  tin-  patent ,  Lines 58  tot;::. 

In  a  pamphlet    published  in  ( 'ineinuat  i   in  1876,  entitled    "  Ext  rael  ion  <ln  Jus  Sucre" 

des  PI  antes  saochari  feres,  par  Diffusion,"  the  author  of  which  is  <;.  Bouscaren,  is 
found,  on  page  2,  a  description  of  the  alleged  improvement  pa' en  ted  by  Swenson,  and 

it  s]  teaks  of  t  he  add  it  ion  of  Hulk  ( ea  i  honat  e  of  lime-)  to  cither  the  water  of  the  dif- 
fusion bat  fcery  or  to  t  he  pulp  of  t  he  cane  it -elf  he  fore  it  goes  into  the  bat  (cry. 


65 

The  following  is  a  translation  of  the  paragraph  referred  to : 

"The  solidification  of  the  albumen,  pectine,  and  other  elements  injurious  to  the 
sugar  being  made  in  the  tissue  of  the  pulp  itself  by  the  addition  of  a  proper  quantity 
of  chalk,  either  to  the  water  of  alimentation  or  to  the  pulp  itself  before  its  introduc- 
tion into  the  macerators." 

Of  the  English  patents  that  have  been  issued  may  be  noted  the  following:  In  1813 
No.  3754,  to  one  Howard,  the  use  of  alum,  lime,  and  chalk. 

In  1874,  No.  1730,  to  Johnson,  the  use  of  alkaline  carbonates  prior  to  treatment  of 
the  sugar  with  alcohol. 

In  1874,  No.  1989,  to  James  Duncan,  the  neutralization  of  the  free  acids  arising  in 
saccharine  solutions  by  means  of  carbonate  of  lime. 

III. 

From  the  foregoing  statements  the  following  conclusions  may  be  drawn: 

(1)  That  the  above  patent  is  held  by  Mr.  Swenson  in  trust  for  the  use  and  benefit 
of  the  Government  and  its  citizens,  the  discovery  patented  having  been  made  by  hiiu 
while  specially  employed  in  experimentation,  and  under  an  implied  contract  granting 
to  the  Government  all  property  in  the  results  of  such  experimentation. 

(2)  That  the  thing  patented  was  a  suggestion  made  by  an  employe"  specially  em- 
ployed for  the  purpose,  and  which  only  amounted  to  the  curing  of  a  defect  in  a  part 
of  a  process  already  planned  iu  its  entirety  by  another,  and  which  of  itself  was  not  a 
complete  invention,  and  which  suggest  ion  would  belong  to  the  inventor  of  the  process 
under  whom  he  was  working. 

(3)  That  the  patent  is  invalid  in  that  the  thing  patented  is  not  new. 

Under  the  first  head  it  is  sufficient  to  say  that  Congress  having  authorized  the 
making  of  these  sugar  experiments  at  public  expense,  they  are  made  for  the  benefit 
of  the  public  at  large,  and  the  results  that  spring  from  them  become  the  property  of 
the  Government,  to  the  free  use  of  which  all  citizens  are  equally  entitled.  Persons 
employed  in  the  carrying  on  of  such  experiments,  so  authorized,  by  the  acceptance  of 
the  employment  waive  all  personal  right  to  any  discoveries  they  may  make  in  the 
course  of  their  employment,  and  by  implication  contract  that  such  discoveries  shall 
become  the  property  of  the  Government.  It  would  be  incompatible  with  the  object  of 
the  act  of  Congress  authorizing  the  making  of  experiments,  that  any  personal  prop- 
erty to  discoveries  made  by  person  semployed  under  the  law  should  be  retained  by 
them,  for,  if  SO,  then  the  end  had  iu  view,  the  general  1  tene  lit  of  the  public,  would  be 
destroyed,  and  public  moneys  would  be  expended  merely  to  enable  private  persons  to 
make  discoveries  for  their  own   personal  use  and  advantage,  and  not    for  the  general 

welfare  of  the  people.    Congress  would  be  granting  public  moneys  for  private  use, 

ami  this  it  can  not  constitutionally  do. 

While  there  are  nit  adjudicated  oases  bearing  niton  the   right  of  a  person  employed 

by  the  Government  to  make  experiments  to  discoveries  made  by  him  in  the  course  of 
experiments,  there  Is  a  diotum  by  Justice  Field,  in  the  case  of  the  United  States  v. 
Burns,  LS  Wallace,  page  2 hi,  w  lu  re  he  sa]  a :  u  [fan  officer  in  the  military  service,  not 
especially  employed  to  wtah  <  tperimenU  with  a  view  to  suggested  improvements,  dei         i 

Valuable  improvement,  he  is  cut  it  led  to  the  benefit  of  it,  and  to  letters  patent."  etc. 

This  may  be  held  to  imply  the  ooftveree,  that  where  such  officer  was  employed  to 

experiment  he  would  not  be  entitled  to  patent  his  Improvement. 
Under  the  second  head,  it  is  sufficient  to  state  that  the  suggestion  made  by  Mr. 

Sw  en  so  n  makes  a  caSfiOD  all   foUTS  wltfa  the  general  doct  i  ine  laid  down  ill  t  he  leading 

case  of  Agawam  v,  WooleD  Company  i7  Wallace,.'!-!)"11  the  relations  between  em- 
ployers and  employes,  and  thai  such  Improvement  as  he  suggested  would  be  for  the 
use  and  benefit  of  his  employ  ei , 
The  doctrine  is  thus  stated  in  the  opinion  by  .Justice  Clifford: 
"  Persons  employed,  as  muofa  as  employers,  are  entitled  to  their  own  Independent 
invent  ions,  but  where  the  employer  basoonoeived  the  plan  of  an  Invention  and 
L5449— No.  17 fi 


66 

gaged  in  experiments  to  perfect  it,  no  suggestions  from  an  employ^,  not  amounting  to 
a  new  method  or  arrangement,  which  in  itself  is  a  complete  invention,  is  sufficient  to 
deprive  the  employer  of  the  exclusive  property  in  the  perfected  improvements.  But 
where  the  suggestions  go  to  make  up  a  perfect  and  complete  machine,  embracing  the 
substance  of  all  that  is  embodied  in  the  patent  subsequently  issued  to  the  party  to 
whom  the  suggestions  were  made,  the  patent  is  invalid,  because  the  real  invention  or 
discovery  belongs  to  another,"  and  cases  cited. 

Under  the  third  head  it  is  unnecessary  to  comment,  for  the  thing  patented  not  bring 
new,  the  patent  is  invalid. 

IV. 
REMEDY. 

The  possession  by  Mr.  Swenson  of  this  patent  has  a  serious  and  damaging  effect  on 
the  progress  of  the  manufacture  of  sugar  from  sorghum  cane  in  this  country.  It  is  a 
cloud  on  the  title  of  the  people  of  this  country  to  make  use  of  a  discovery  which  the 
Government  has  at  public  expense  made.  Cougress,  in  authorizing  the  expending  of 
$2*25,000  to  promote  this  manufacture,  was  mindful  of  its  great  importance  and  the 
beneiits  to  arise  from  utilizing  sorghum  cane,  which  could  he  grown  over  an  immense 
area  of  this  country,  and  make  valuable  thousands  of  acres  of  land,  and  at  the  same 
time  cause  the  production  of  the  home  supply  of  sugar. 

This  new  enterprise  has  received  a  damaging  blow,  and  it  is  desirable  that  the  law 
department  of  the  Government  should  take  all  necessary  steps  to  protect  this  enter- 
prise, to  remove  the  cloud  that  to-day  prevents  the  free  use  of  this  manufacture  as 
perfected  by  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  and  secure  to  the  people  the  full  benefit 
of  all  its  works. 

It  is  suggested  that  where  a  patent  has  been  improperly  obtained  by  a  person  em- 
ployed by  the  Government  to  carry  on  experiment  for  discoveries  made  in  the  course 
of  the  experiments,  the  patentee  may  be  restrained  by  injunction  from  appropriating 
to  his  own  use  auy  of  the  rights  granted  by  the  pateut.  This  is  the  view  as  held  by 
At  torney-General  Cushing  in  an  opinion  to  be  found  in  volume  7,  Opinions  Attorneys- 
General,  page  056. 


Part  II. 
EXPERIMENTS  AT  BIO  GRANDE.  N.  J. 


Rkpokt  of  h.  A..  Hughes. 


Sir:  I  have  the  honor  to  present  herewith  my  report,  as  superintend- 
ent of  the  experiments  conducted  at  Eio  Grande  the  past  season,  on  the 
manufacture  of  sugar  from  sorghum. 

The  Hughes  Sugar  House  Company  is  located  at  Kio  Grande,  Cape 
May  County,  X.  J.  The  building  of  this  company  is  constructed  of  brick 
and  iron,  30  feet  square,  and  fully  equipped  with  machinery  for  extract- 
ing and  working  into  merchantable  products  all  of  the  sugar  from  15 
tons  of  cane  pei  day. 

The  machinery  consists  of  a  cleaning  and  shredding  apparatus,  a  dif- 
fusion battery,  an  open  evaporator,  vacuum  pan,  hot  room,  wagons,  and 
centrifugal. 

The  cane  is  cut  into  sections,  freed  from  leaves,  sheaths,  and  seed  tops. 
and  passed  in  at  once  to  the  shredding  knives.  The  leaves  and 
tops  are  also  separated  and  collected  into  different  receptacles.  All 
this  machinery  is  automatic,  and  the  capacity  of  the  cleaning  apparatus 
was  proved  to  be  equal  to  the  cleaning  of  14  tons  in  twenty-two  hours. 
It  worked  without  delay  or  repairs  of  any  description,  and  the  wear 
and  tear  was  bo  slight  that  at  the  close  of  the  season  its  condition  ap- 
peared to  be  as  good  as  when  first  started.  All  this  apparatus  had  been 
thoroughly  tested  during  the  season  of  1^ 

The  shredded  cane  is  packed  into  perforated  baskets  ami  it  is  then 

ready  for  the  diffusion  battery. 

This  battery  differs  radically  from  those  in  ordinary  use.  and  was 
planned  LI]  1886.  During  this  season  its  work  was  not  perfectly  satis- 
factory—concentration  of  juice  being  gained  only  at  a  serious  loss  of 
sugar  in  the  w  a8te  products — but  after  the  close  of  the  season  and  when 
the  battery  was  properly  managed,  it  was  proven  and  the  tests  recorded, 
which  have  shown  that  it  can  extract  practically  all  of  the  BUgai  in  the 

cane  at  an  expense  for  evaporation  of  in  percent  only  in  <  that 

for  mill  juice;  this  result  is  satisfactory, and  is  believed  to  better  than 
that  given  by  any  other  battery.    The  diffusion  juice  from  this  battery 

67 


68 

was  evaporated  iii  an  open  pau  until  one-half  of  its  water  was  removed; 
it  was  then  drawn  into  the  vacuum,  still  further  concentrated,  grained 
in  the  same  pau,  and  struck  into  sugar  wagons  in  the  hot  room.  The 
centrifugal  machine  separated  the  crude  molasses  from  the  raw  sugar, 
leaving  it  in  a  condition  suitable  for  refiners'  uses.  Storage  tanks,  set- 
tling tanks,  filter  presses,  defecators,  clarifiers,  and  chemicals  of  any 
kind  were  not  used.  The  vacuum  pan  and  centrifugal  machine  do  not 
differ  from  well-known  forms. 

THE   CROP. 

Eighty  acres  of  cane  were  planted  for  the  use  of  the  mill,  and  of  this 
7  acres  were  grown  by  neighboring  farmers  and  the  balance  by  the 
company.  Varieties  planted  were  Amber,  White  African,  Kansas 
Orange,  and  Late  Orange,  from  which  910  pounds  sugar  and  80  gallons 
of  molasses  per  acre  were  made.  In  this  account  is  included  the  un- 
ripe cane  used  in  breaking  in  the  house  and  all  damaged  cane.  The 
tonnage  far  exceeded  our  greatest  expectations.  This  was  occasioned 
by  carefully  planting  the  hills  closer  and  giving  it  good  attention,  to- 
gether with  favorable  rains.  The  cost  of  raising  the  cane  was  $11.62 
per  acre.  This  includes  the  hauling  out  of  fertilizers  and  placing  them 
upon  the  land,  which  consisted  of  150  pounds  muriate  of  potash  per 
acre,  and  rotten  chips  from  previous  seasons,  together  with  a  little 
stable  manure  in  spots.  The  cost  of  potash  and  chips  is  not  included 
in  the  above.  The  cost  of  cutting  the  cane  and  bringing  it  to  the  fac- 
tory was  45  cents  per  ton.  We  paid  13  per  day  for  the  use  of  teams 
and  farm  hands,  and  laborers  were  paid  $1.25  per  day. 

The  average  yield  was  KU-  tons  per  aere.  All  the  fanners'  cane  was 
worked  and  27.38  acres  of  that  raised  by  the  company.  Over  -47  acres 
were  left  in  the  fields.  One  tract  (8.43  acres)  averaged  25  tons  of  cane 
per  acre,  from  which  1,100  pounds  of  raw  Sugar  and  120  gallons  of  mo- 
lasses  per  acre  were  extracted. 

Part  of  the  field  was  used  in  breaking  in  the  house. 

The  yields  of  the  formers1  crops  varied  widely,  the  maximum  being 
1,970  pounds  of  raw  sugar  and  12  I  gallons  of  molasses  per  acre.  This 
was  made  from  17  tons  and  675  pounds  of  field  cane.  The  term  "field 
cane"   means  neither    stripped    nor   topped.     The    minimum    was    540 

pounds  of  sugar  and  60  gallons  of  molasses.  All  the  seed  used  by  the 
formers  was  the  same.  The  variations  in  yield  were  caused  by  the  dif- 
ference in  cultivation.     <  )ther  yields  were  as  follows  per  acre  : 


popnda 




Thinl. 

m 

l,  in 

80 

Fourth 


lit 


Tin'  company  grew  this  cane  ou  shares,  giving  the  farmers  one  half 

the  products,  viz.  smrar.  molasses,  and    Seed.     The  basis  of  settlement 


G9 

Was  for  raw  sugar  4  cents  per  pound  and  molasses  at  25  cents  per  gallon. 
Consequently  the  four  best  acres  yielded — reduced  to  a  cash  basis — as 
follows : 


Quantity. 


Ephraim  Hildrith : 

Sngar,at4  cents pounds 

Ifolasses,  at  25  rents gallons 

Joseph  Richardson : 

Sugar,  at  4  cents pounds 

Molasses,  at  25  cents gallons 

William  HoUingshead : 

Sugar,  at  4  centa pounds 

Molasses,  at  25  cents gallons 

Jolm  Brown : 

Sugar,  at  4  cents pounds 

Molasses,  at  -15  cents gallons 


1,970 
120 


1,560 
IliO 


1,441 
60 


1,254 

110 


Amount. 


$78.  80 
30.00 


62.40 
30.00 


20.00 


50.16 

20.00 


Total. 


'■$108.  80 
i  92.40 
I  77.76 
I    79.16 


This  does  not  include  the  seed  which  has  not  been  thrashed. 


WORKING   SEASON. 

The  company  commenced  breaking  in  its  machinery  on  September  3 
and  closed  on  November  8,  making  fifty-two  days.  Twelve  days  in  the 
commencement  of  the  season  were  consumed  in  training  men  to  man- 
age the  new  machinery.  The  working  season  was  the  most  unfavorable 
since  1SS0.  Frost  occurred  in  the  Last  week  in  September,  but  did  little 
damage,  [ce  one-half  inch  thick  was  found  on  October  15.  The  crop 
at  that  time  was  growing  beautifully  and  the  Bugar  tests  rising  rapidly, 

and  the  day  following  this  freeze  the  leaves  turned  white  and  died. 

At  that  time  we  were  working  on  the  Kansas  Orange  fields.    This 

variety  did  not  deteriorate  for  several  days,  but  at  the  expiration  of  this 

time  it  gradually  declined  until  October  28,  when  the  purity  of  the 
juice  was  reduced  so  low  thai  it  did  not  warrant  our  working  any  longer 
for  sugar.    Daring  this  period  there  were  several  frosts. 

Another  effect  of  the  ice  on  this  variety  of  cane  was  to  make  it  un- 
able to  withstand  the  repeated  heavy  gales  of  wind,  which  finally  blew 
it  down  and  broke  it  badly. 

it  was  especially  our  desire  to  study  the  effects  of  frosi  on  the  differ- 
ent varieties,  and   we  were   fully  aware  that    we  could  at  any  time   in- 

orease  our  average  sugar  per  acre  by  leaving  this  variety  and  working 
the  Late  Orange.   Alter  October  28  we  commenced  cutting  on  the  Late 

Orange  fields,  which  had  Withstood  frosi  and  ice  in  marked  contrast 
with  the  other  cane.  This  variety  Stood  the  freezes  and  thaws  with 
very  little  Change,  and  at  the  time  of  the  closing  of  the  house  it  \\a>  .Mill 

up  to  the  average  of  the  season  in  parity. 
The  cane  was  worked  after  tins  date  at   intervals  in  the  diffusion 

battery   until    November  22.     The  cam"    brought     in   at    this   time   was 

frozen  solidly,  but  the  juice  was  in  good  condition.    Warm  weather  ha\ 
ing  intervened  from  the  22d  to  the  26th  the  cane  was  Bampled  ami 
tested  on  November  26  with  the  intention  of  making  a  run  for  sugar 


70 

on  December  1.  Other  matters  having  interfered  this  was  not  carried 
ont.  There  is  not  the  slightest  doubt  that  good  sugar  crystals  could 
have  been  obtained  until  December  1. 

This  cane  has  at  last  been  weakened  by  the  unusually  severe  weather 
during  the  past  week.  It  is  falling  down  badly  and  is  only  fit  for  sirup 
on  this  date,  December  7. 

The  sugar  per  acre  could  have  been  increased  fully  23  per  cent,  on  this 
season's  work  by  good  extraction.  It  must  not  be  overlooked  that  the 
raw  sugar  made  this  season  would  have  to  be  reduced  from  20  to  25  per 
cent,  in  order  to  make  it  chemically  pure. 

Another  source  of  loss  to  which  I  desire  to  call  your  attention  is  in 
the  harvesting  of  the  seed.  The  seed  tops  are  cut  off,  spread  on  the 
fields  to  dry,  stacked  up,  and  afterwards  thrashed.  By  this  method  we 
rarely  obtain  more  than  1J  bushels  of  seed  from  a  ton  of  field  cane. 
There  is  a  constant  loss  in  the  field  during  the  drying  by  the  seed  shell- 
ing out  and  the  ravaging  of  birds.  Field  mice  and  rats  also  attack  the 
stacks.  Samples  of  seed  tops  carefully  saved  from  these  same  fields 
show  an  average  yield,  on  well  developed  canes,  of  3  bushels  per  ton. 
If  this  seed  could  be  saved  it  would  be  of  sufficient  value  to  pay  the 
coal  bill  for  working  up  the  crop  in  this  place. 

In  making  the  above  statements  I  wish  it  to  be  distinctly  understood 
that  neither  time  nor  expense  was  spared  in  order  to  make  these  rec- 
ords accurate;  the  house  being  frequently  delayed  in  order  that  the 
records  might  be  secured. 

I  believe  that  a  ton  of  field  cane  is  too  uncertain  a  factor  to  be  used 
as  a  standard  for  calculation,  as  it  varies  considerably  in  wet  and  dry 
weather.  Wagons  containing  3,000  pounds  of  cane,  as  it  comes  from 
the  field,  will  increase  to  3,400  pounds  and  more  by  being  rained  on. 
There  is  a  variation  in  the  weight  of  the  cane  before  and  alter  frost; 
also  in  the  percentage  of  leaves  of  the  large  and  small  canes.  Tor  these 
reasons  it  is  better  to  use  clean  chips  prepared  for  the  battery  or  an 
acre  of  ground. 

It  might  be  worth  while  to  state  that  this  sugar  house,  with  slight 
alteration,  could  be  made  to  work  25  tons  per  day,  having  frequently 
worked  at  this  rate  from  six  to  eight  hours. 

Believing  thai  sorghum-sugar  manufacture  is  to  be  an  established  in- 
dustry and  that  reports  Of  this  nature  will  have  an  attraction  for  the 
general  public,  I  have  written  in  this  simple  style  and  tried  to  avoid 
technicalities.     Those  who  wish  the  details  F  refer  to  the  reports  of  your 

chemists, Messrs.  Broadbent  and  Edson,  who,  I  believe,  have  faithfully 

recorded  the  workings  of  the  house;  also  to  the  report  of  the  experi- 
mental station  of  New  Jersey,  soon  to  be  issued. 

Respectfully, 

11.  A.  Hug m:s, 

Superintendent. 
lion.  Norman  J.  ( Jolm 

Commissioner  of  Agriculture)  Washington^  />.  0* 


71 


SUMMARY  OF  CHEMICAL  WORK  AT  RIO  GRAXDE. 

[Abstract  of  report  of  Hubert  Edson.] 

The  manufacturing  season  at  Rio  Grande  commenced  September  5  and  closed  No- 
vember 8.  The  analyses  of  juices  were  begun  September  8  and  continued  throughout 
the  season. 

On  October  15  there  fell  a  heavy  frost,  one  of  the  earliest  known  in  Rio  Grande, 
which  completely  killed  all  the  leaves  on  the  cane  and  stopped  the  growth  of  all 
the  unripe  (ields.  The  late  orange  was  the  only  variety  which  was  not  seriously  in- 
jured by  the  frost  and  the  cold  weather  following  it.  This  hardy  cane,  although  the 
frost  touched  it  before  it  was  matured,  held  its  sucrose  to  the  end  of  the  season,  even 
notwishstandiug  two  slight  freezes. 

It  will  be  noticed  from  Table  III  that  the  extraction  of  sugar  by  the  battery  was 
very  poor.  This  arose  from  improper  management  of  the  battery  by  the  men  em- 
ployed in  the  diffusion  room,  much  sugar  being  thrown  out  with  the  exhausted  chips 
from  this  cause. 

EXPERIMENTS  IX   CRYSTALLIZING  SUGARS. 

All  the  sugars  as  first  run  from  the  centrifugal  were  full  of  "smear,"  aud  after  the 
regular  season  had  closed  experiments  were  made  as  to  the  advisability  of  re-crystal- 
lizing the  sngar,  but  it  was  found  that  the  loss  in  weight  was  too  great  to  make  it 
profitable,  only  8,329  pounds  of  re-crystallized  sugars  being  obtained  from  nearly 
double  that  amount  of  smear  sugar. 

In  Table  VIII  are  found  the  analyses  of  the  re-crystallized  sugars. 

On  November  19  and  22  experiments  were  made  with  the  diffusion  battery  to  see  if 
it  was  possible  to  obtain  a  better  extraction  than  the  season's  work  had  given. 

An  extra  eell  was  made  and  placed  outside  the- battery.  Then  instead  of  emptying 
one  cell  of  diffusion  j  nice  at  a  time  the  two  heaviest  juices  were  drawn  into  the  out- 
side cell.  By  drawing  oil' two  cells  at  a  time  two  baskets  of  fresh  chips  could  be  im- 
mersed each  time  in  the  outside  cell,  and  the  diffusion  juice  be  brought  up  within  lJ 
Brix  of  the  mill  juice,  and  at  the  Bame  time  an  excellent  extraction  obtained.  Both 
the  days  in  which  these  experiments  were  made  were  very  cold.  This,  of  course, 
made  it  difficult  to  keep  the  battery  at  a  sufficiently  high  temperature  for  a  proper 
diffusion. 

In  the  appended  table  the  degree  Brix.  is  all  that  is  given,  as  the  juices  were  not 
used  : 


Chip  juice. 

Diffusion 
juice. 

Exhausted 
chipjuioe. 

B  i  i  x  : 

13.42 
15.18 

14.65 

18.  :>j 

1.30 

1  ^8 

.88 

These  experiments  were  conducted  by  Mr.  Bnghes  and  l>r.  Neale,  chemist  of  the 

New    Jenej    experimental   slation.       The   degrees    Bril  were    taken   by  Dr.  Neale  and 

myself. 

impie  of  chip  juice  was  polarized  ami  found  to  contain  8.98  per  oent.  suaroMi 
with  a  purity  of  60  9 


n 

Results  of  analyses. 

Table  1. — Analysts  of  juice  from  fresh  chips. 

Number  of  analyses Gl 

Per  cent. 

Mean  sucrose 8. 98 

Mean  glucose 3. 24 

Mean  total  solids  (by  spindle) 14.  02 

Sucrose : 

Maximum 12. 28 

Minimum 4.  71 

Glucose : 

Maximum 4.  4."> 

Minimum 2.07 

Total  solids : 

Maximum 17.  80 

Minimum 10.  45 

Table  2. — Analyses  of  diffusion  juices. 

Number  of  analyses 63 

Per  cent. 

Mean  sucrose 0. 93 

Mean  glucose 2. 86 

Mean  total  solids  (spindle) 11. 18 

Sucrose: 

Maximum 10.02 

Minimum 3.89 

Glucose : 

Maximum 3.97 

Minimum 1.32 

Total  solids: 

Maximum 14.40 

Minimum 8.  38 

Table  3.— Sirup*. 

Number  of  analyses 55 

Per  cent. 

Mean  sue  rose L8.68 

Mean  glucose 8.67 

Mean  total  solids  (spindle) 32.  40 

Sucrose : 

Maximum 25.26 

Minimum    10.78 

Glucose : 

Maximum lf>.  70 

Minimum 'A.>\ 

Total  solids  : 

Maximum 43.  l(i 

Minimum 19.88 

Table  I.  -  ExhamUd  chips. 

Number  of  analyses 58 

Percent. 

Mean  sucrose 2.  16 

Meao  glucose W 

M»a'    total  solids  (Npindlc) 4.  03 


73 

Table  A.— Exhausted  chips— Continued. 

Sucrose  :  Per  cent. 

Maximum 4. 23 

Minimum 81 

Glucose : 

Maximum 1.62 

Minimum 30 

Total  solids : 

Maximum 6. 64 

Minimum 1-33 

Table  5. — Masse  cuiies. 

Number  of  analyses 6 

Per  cent. 

Mean  sucrose ;").">.  TtJ 

Mean  glucose .. 23.  44 

Mean  water 18. 50 

Mean  ash 4.  44 

Table  6.— Raw  sugars. 

Number  of  analyses 14 

Per  cent. 

Mean  sucrose 73.80 

Mean  glucose 13.63 

Mean   water 5.  89 

Mean  ash 2.56 

Table  7. — Molasses. 

Number  of  analyses 14 

Per  cent. 

Mian  sucrose 35.  48 

Mean  glucose 32.  20 

Mean  water 34,  7 -J 

Mean  ash ,   ;..  L5 

Table  8. — Re-crystallized  sugars. 
Number  of  analyses 9 

I*.  i    ceut. 

Mean  .sucrose  90,  ?:> 

Mean  gltlOOSe 

Mean  water 1.  1'.) 

Mean  ash 71 

te. — The  analyses  of"  masse  ot  m  and  molasses  are  only  partial.    The 

complete  analyses  will  be  given  Id  Balletic   18. 

ESTIMATE  -  "i    0OS1   OP  BUGAB  l   LOTOBLES  MADE  BY  MB.  H.  A.  lirciHES. 

-MAIL    ci-.N  1  K  VI.    -I  GAB    M«  >U8E. 

Coti  and  .sninmunj  of  mm  hint  >■;/. 

One  vacuum-pan,  I  feel  |850.  00 

One  vacuum-pump 

Thirty  sugar-wagons,  at  $14 : 

Two  Weston  centrifugals,  complete  with  mixer,  at  f850 1. : 

Four  banks,  water,  sirup,  dumps,  and  extra,  at  | :."> 1 

One  ;.ii  horse-power  boiler 1 

one  engine,  i">  horse-power 

Pipe-fittings 

Two  boiler  feed-pom]  180.00 

One  water-pomp 

Two  sirup-pumps,  at  $9  ; 


74 

Cost  and  summary  of  machinery — Continued. 

Extra  work,  machinist  two  months  ami  labor $520.00 

Buildings 3,000.00 

Freights,  lights  and  extras 250. 00 

Total 9,000.00 

Capacity  of  house  per  day. 

Six  wagons  on  1,080  gallons  molasses  worked  into  masse  cuite  for  an  aver- 
age, say  4  pounds  sugar  to  a  gallon,  or pounds..  4,  320 

And  45  per  cent,  sirup gallons..  488 

For  260  days,  from  September  1  to  July  1 pounds..   1,123,200 

For  260  days,  from  September  1  to  July  1 gallons..       126,880 

Crew,  cost  of  manning,  and  cost  per  gallon. 
Day  shift:  Per  day. 

One  fireman $1.50 

One  centrifugal 1.  50 

One  sirup  and  coopering 2. 50 

One  sugar  boiler 3.  00 

Night  shift : 

One  fireman 1.  50 

One  pan  man 1. 50 

11.50 
Three  tons  soft  coal,  at  $2.50 7.50 

19.00 

Cost  per  gallon 1.  77 

Twenty-five  gallons  for  1  ton  field  cane cents..  444; 

SMALL  AUXILIARY  PLANTATION   HOUSE. 

One  diffusion  battery,  50  to  75  tons,  complete $5, 600.  00 

Cutting  and  cleaning  apparatus 600.00 

One  double  effect 2,500.00 

Two  juice-pumps,  at  $90 180.00 

Seven  small  tanks 100.00 

One  large  tank 25.00 

Engine,  8  horse-power 200. 00 

Boilers,  100  horse-power 1, 000. 00 

Two  boiler  feed-pumps,  at  $125 250.00 

One  water-pump 250.  00 

One  hot-water  pump 125.  00 

Pipe-fittings ' 500. 00 

Building  one-story  shed 1,000.00 

Labor,  freight,  and  incidentals 800.00 

Total 13,330,00 

Capacity  per  tiny. 
Lowest  estimate,  5"  tons  field  oane;  25  gallons  molasses,  45  to 66  percent,  test  fox 

each   ton    Held   cane  woikr.l;  25  gallons   for  eaeb  ton  X  50        1,850  per  day  for  eighty 

days     100,000  gallons,  or  1  acres  of  ordinary  cane  per  acre  for  each  da\  ;  or  320  acres 
asoD  of  eighty  days. 
Three  snob  plants  vonld  supply  300,000  gallons  In  ■  working  season. 


75 

Crew,  cost  of  manufacture,  and  cost  per  ton. 

One  man  throwing  caue  on  carrier $1. 25 

One  man  on  seed  topper 1. 25 

One  man  filling  baskets 1. 25 

One  man  on  eleventh  cell 1. 25 

One  man  hanging  on  baskets 1. 25 

One  man  center 1. 25 

One  man  bagasse 1. 25 

One  man  double  effect 1.  50 

One  man  firing 1. 50 

One  man  driving  away  seed  and  leaves 1.25 

Total  10  men 13.00 

One  horse  on  cart 1.  00 

14.00X  2  =  $28.00 

Labor 28.00 

Coal,  5  tons,  at  §2.50 12.50 

40.50 

Or  80.1  cents  per  ton  for  labor,  etc. 

RECAPITULATION. 

Capital  invested,  small  central  house f9,  000 

Capital  invested,  three  small  auxiliaries,  $13,300 39,990 

Total 43, 990 

Tons. 
Amount  of  cane  worked,  150  tons  for  eighty  days 12,000 

Product. 

12,000  tons,  yielding  25  gallons  molasses  each gallons..  300,000 

300,000  gallons  molasses,  yielding  4  pounds  sugar  each pounds..  1,  200,  000 

And  45  per  cent,  molasses gallons..  1' 

1,200,000  pound*,  at   1  cents   §4d, 000 

135,000  gallons,  at  20  cents 87,000 

18,000  bushels  Beed,  at  40  cents 

Total 

Co8i  of  production. 

Cents. 

Auxiliary  boose,  per  ton ~o.ni 

Central  house,  per  ton II.  25 

124.26 

I  per  ton 30.00 

154. 26  X  12, 000  s  $18, 511 

Farmers'  half)  -ii.iou  oi  3.43  per  ton;   the  company*!  half,  |4 1,100, leas  $18,511 
69  for  inter*  it,  insurance,  superintendence,  eto. 

In  working  1,000  tons  a  day  th<  re  should  be  ten  it1"  to  175  too  batteries  and  ■  large 
central  bonse.    Auxiliary  booses  of  this  pizs  would  cost  complete  »bo 
and  the  central  bouse  would  cost  without  bone  bia  rouldalsobea 

corresponding  reduction  in  working  exp< 


Paet  III. 
EXPERIMENTS  AT  LAWRENCE,  LA. 


The  Department  of  Agriculture  having  determined  to  continue  the 
experiments  in  the  manufacture  of  sugar  by  diffusion  in  Louisiana, 
Mr.  E.  C.  Barthelemy,  of  Xew  Orleans,  was  appointed  general  superin- 
tendent of  the  work  January  27,  1887. 

Following  is  a  copy  of  the  order  assigning  him  to  this  duty: 

January  27,  1887. 

E.  C.  Barthelemy,  of  Louisiana,  is  hereby  appointed  general  superintendent  of  the 
diffusion  experiments  to  be  conducted  in  Louisiana  by  this  Department. 

Norman  J.  Colman. 

Commissioner. 

The  following  instructions  were  sent  with  the  order  to  Mr.  Barthe- 
lemy: 

January  27,  1887. 

Dear  Sir  :  I  inclose  you  herewith  your  formal  appointment  as  general  superin- 
tendent of  the  experiments  in  diffusion  which  are  to  be  made  in  Louisiana  next 
autumn. 

At  present  your  instructions  will  be  of  a  simple  nature. 

The  contract  for  the  building  of  the  machinery  has  been  awarded  to  the  Cohvell 
Iron  Works  of  New  York,  the  lowest  responsible  homo  bidders. 

This  company  has  also  taken  the  contract  of  erecting  the  battery  in  Louisiana  and 
patting  it  in  order  foi 

l(  of  all  you  will  consult  with  prominent  sugar  planters  and  others  intei 
in  the  matter  in  respect  of  the  best  place  for  locating  this  experimental  machinery. 
Keep  iu  view  that   good  donble-effeot   and   strike  pans   and  convenient  crystallizing 
rooms,  etc.,  iiiiim   lie  had. 

I  expect  to  \  :-it  Louisiana  early  in  March,  and  by  that  time  you  will  have  secured 
such  information  as  will  enable  me  to  decide  upon  the  location  at  once. 

Immediately  thereafter  the  machinery  and  building  material  now  at  tlie  "Her- 
mitage" plantation  will  be  transferred  to  the  new  quarters,  and  then  the  apparatus 
now  at  Fori  Scott,  which  is  to  be  used  in  Louisiana,  will   be  secured.     The  detail*,  of 

this  work  I  will  send  you  later,  a-  soon  a-  you  enter  upon  the  performance  of  your 
duties,  February  l,  you  will  proceed  to  Judge  Emil  Boat's  plantation  and  make  a 
careful  stud;  of  the  machinery  on  hand,  and  submit  to  me,  at  your  eailiest  possible 
convenience,  ■  lull  report  thereon,  and  add  thereto  your  own  judgment  concerning  the 

suitability  of  the  place  tor  the  proposed  e\pei  intents. 

It  lamyearneal  urish  that  all  persons  interested  in  tin-  success  of  the  sugar  indus- 
try should  heartily  co-operate  Ln  this  work. 

Wry  respect  fully, 

.MAN     .1.     COl  M  \N. 

•ii>  r, 
E.  C.  Bam  m  u  my. 

.\<  La. 


78 

On  February  18, 1887,  the  following  additional  instructions  were  sent 
to  Mr.  Barthelemy: 

First  of  all,  however,  I  desire  to  secure  a  comparative  test  of  diffusion  with  mill- 
ing. When  all  is  in  readiness  for  work,  only  a  few  days  will  bo  required  to  make 
this  test,  and  therefore  it  would  not  interfere  very  much  with  the  regular  milling 
work. 

I  have  contracted  for  a  12-cell  circular  battery,  to  be  built  on  the  plan  for  the 
Sangerhausen  apparatus.  All  the  plans  and  specifications  for  the  new  battery  have 
been  purchased  by  the  contractors  (the  Col  well  Iron  Works  of  New  York)  from  the 
Sangerhauseu  Company.  The  battery  is  to  be  erected  by  the  Colwell  Company,  and 
delivered  to  the  Department  there  ready  for  use  on  or  beforo  the  first  of  October.  I 
think  it  is  important  to  select  a  place,  such  as  you  describe  Judge  Rost's  to  be,  where 
all  the  evaporating  and  other  machinery  for  working  the  juices  is  ready  for  work. 

I  propose  to  make  the  machinery  as  simple  as  possible  and  to  devote  all  our  ener- 
gies to  solving  the  problem  of  diffusion. 

I  expect  to  go  to  Louisiana  early  in  March  and  hope  to  be  able  to  make  some  favor- 
able arrangement  without  delay.  The  only  hope  for  the  success  of  our  experiments 
is  to  work  with  some  one  who  will  use  every  endeavor  to  make  success  possible. 

The  work  of  the  Department  will  be  purely  experimental.  If  it  is  successful  the 
planter  will  reap  the  full  benefit  of  the  success;  if  it  is  not,  no  one  will  suffer  any 
loss. 

I  do  not  think  I  shall  ask  for  more  than  ten  days  for  the  experimental  work,  and 
would  like  to  have  fivo  days  of  that  time  near  the  first  of  the  season  and  the  other 
five  near  the  middle  of  it. 

Do  you  know  of  any  other  place  where  there  is  a  complete  apparatus  for  sugar 
making  which  you  thiuk  would  be  more  favorable  than  Judge  Rost's? 
Respectfully, 

Norman  J.  Colman, 

Commissioner. 

In  March,  1887,  the  honorable  Commissioner  of  Agriculture  visited 
Louisiana  to  consult  with  a  committee  of  the  Sugar  Planters' Association 
of  that  State  respecting  a  suitable  plantation  on  which  the  work  should 
be  done.  This  committee  was  composed  of  the  following  gentlemen, 
viz:  lion.  D.  F.  Kenuer,  John  Dvmond,  Henry  McCall,  T.  S.  Wilkin- 
son, L.  C.  Keever,  W.  B.  Schmidt,  J.  C.  Morris,  \V.  C.  Stubbs. 

The  Commissioner  of  Agriculture  visited,  in  company  with  the  gentle- 
men named,  the  plantations  which  were  thought  suitable  for  the  exper- 
imental work.  After  a  careful  examination  the  committee  made  the  fol- 
lowing report: 

Whereas  the  Gfovernmenl  of  the  United  states  has  determined  to  test  the  praol  Leal 
effect  of  the  diffusion  process  upon  the  sugar  manufacturing  Interests  of  the  country, 
;in<l  Hon.  x.  .J.  Colman,  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  accompanied  by  Chief  Chemist, 
I>r.  II.  w.  Wiley,  having  come  to  Louisiana  to  arrange  for  a  competitive  test  with  the 
methods  now  in  use  tu  our  State,  :ui<l  Commissioner  Colman  having  requested  the  aid 
of  the  Sugar  Planter's  Association  to  select  a  locality  for  making  the  test,  the  associa- 
tion appointed  the  undersigned  a  committee  for  that  purpose.  We  have  therefore 
Inquired  Into  and  examined  all  the  places  available  under  the  conditions  required  by 
t  la-  I  department  of  Agrioull  are. 

One  of  t  he  principal  oonsiderai  ions  that  has  guided  tin-  committee  in  making  the 
selection  has  been  to  oboose  t  hat  locality  which  has  furnished  the  m  >-i  favorable  re- 
sults under  the  old  system,  In  order  that  the  test  should  be  ai  severe,  as  thorough,  as 
complete,  and  as  decisive  as  possible. 


79       " 

We  have  examined  the  various  places  seemingly  available  on  the  Mississippi  River, 
and  have  carefully  inquired  concerning  those  on  the  T&che  or  Attakapas  country,  and 
after  careful  examination  and  thorough  consideration  have  determined  to  recom- 
mend Governor  H.  C.  Warrnoth's  Magnolia  plantation,  in  the  parish  of  Plaquemines,  as 
the  most  suitable  locality,  from  the  fact  that  it  would  afford  the  severest  competitive 
test  of  any  place  in  the  State,  as  the  yield  on  this  plantation  during  several  years 
has  been  greater  per  ton  of  cane  ground  than  on  any  other  place  brought  under  our 
observation. 
March  16,  1887. 

John  Dymond,  Chairman. 
D.  F.  Kexxkk. 
Henry  McCai.l. 
T.  S.  Wilkinson. 
L.  C.  Keeyeb. 
W.  B.  Schmidt. 
J.  C.  Morris. 
W.  C.  Stubbs. 
I  certify  that  the  above  is  a  true  copy  of  the  report  of  this  committee  made  to  the 
Sugar  Planters'  Association,  April  14,  1887. 

John  Dymond, 

Chairman. 

The  superior  advantages  afforded  by  Governor  Warrnoth's  sugar- 
house,  the  surplus  boiler  service  at  his  command,  and  the  facilities 
which  he  offered  for  an  independent  working-  of  the  diffusion  apparatus 
were  the  considerations  which  led  the  committee  to  select  his  place  afl 
the  one  most  suitable  to  the  character  of  the  contemplated  work. 

At  the  request  of  the  Commissioner  there  was  appointed  by  Mr.  Ken- 
ner.  president  of  the  Sugar  Growers'  Association,  an  advisory  committee 
to  assist  those  in  charge  of  the  work,  and  thus  to  help  to  its  successful 
completion.  This  committee  consisted  of  Hon.  John  Dymond,  of  Belair, 
and  llenry  McCall,  of  Donaldsonville.  These  gentlemen  visited  the 
plantation  from  time  to  time  during  the  progress  of  the  work,  both  of 
their  own  accord  and  by  the  request  of  the  Commissioner.  Following 
are  the  reports  which  they  made  of  the  progress  of  the  work  : 

Bblair,  I. a..  Jul;/  15,  l--:. 

Dxab  Sir:  In  accordance  with  your  request  in  your  favor  of  1  —  tli  instant,  1  have 
visited  Magnolia  plantation,  Tuesday .  12th,  and  Wednesday,  13th  instant.  The  work 
seemed  generally  to  be  well  advanced.  The  house  was  completed,  except  the  floor. 
The  oarbonio-acid  pomp,  filter-press  pump,  and  cutter-engine  were  all  in  position  and 
needed  only  connecting  np. 

The  foundations  for  the  dill  users  were  being  huilt  and  will  soon  be  completed.  The 
excavation  for  cutter  was  made,  but  not  yet  walled  np.  The  lime-kiln  was  finished, 
and  the  washers  and  connect  ions  will  he  completed  t  his  week. 

It*  the  diffusion  battery  cornea  along  promptly,  it  would  seem  probable  that  the 
whole  plant  should  he  ready  by  October  l,  as  anticipated. 

In  consultation  with  the  gentlemen  In  charge  of  the  work,  as  yon  ed,  the 

matter  of  a  water  .supply  for  the  ditliisers  came   np.      'I  hey   named  1,900  gallons,  I  be- 
lieve, as  being  the  contemplated  reservoir  of  water.    It  would  seem  to  me  don.ii.ie  to 

have  much  more  than  this,  as   this  limited   supply   mi-lit   be  exhausted   any  moment, 

and  it  would  seem  a  pity  to  have  the  luce*  m  of  d  illusion  dependent  on  a  water  supply 

which  might  he  cut  off  in  an  hour  or  two  t i  tome  quite  trivial  cause.    I  tie 

suggested  a  10,000  oi  'lion  wooden  oiatern,  which  could  probably 


80 

for  $'200,  and  this  would  insure  the  continuance  of  the  experiments  during  six  or  eight 
hours  any  way,  and  during  that  time  any  accident  interfering  with  the  water  supply 
might  he  overcome. 

As  one  of  the  most  important  points  to  he  determined  would  he  the  capacity  of  the 
hattery  for  twenty-four  consecutive  hours,  it  would  be  unfortunate  to  have  any  stop- 
page for  water. 
Always  glad  to  act  on  your  suggestions,  I  am, 
Yours,  truly, 

John  Dymond, 
Of  Advisory  Committee. 

Hon.  Norman  J.  Colman, 

Commissioner  of  Agriculture. 


Belair,  La.,  August  2, 1887. 

Dear  Sir:  I  have  a  letter  from  Mr.  McCall,  that  lie  will  go  with  me  to  Magnolia 
August  12,  and  that  he  can  not  well  go  soouer.  We  shall  then  report  at  once  to  you 
as  fully  as  practicable. 

There  is  considerable  apprehension  of  danger  to  the  diffusion  experiments  now  felt 
here,  owing  to  the  newspaper  report  of  the  choking  of  the  cutters  used  in  Deuierara, 
which  cutters  are  the  same  used,  or  contemplated  using  here. 

In  response  to  your  request  for  suggestions,  would  it  not  lie  well  to  promptly  find, 
by  telegram  or  otherwise,  what  the  exact  cause  of  the  trouble  is,  and  whether  or  not 
it  can  be  remedied. 

This  seems  to  be  a  serious  matter. 
Yours,  truly, 

John  Dy;.;ond. 
Hon.  X.J.  Colman, 

Commissioner  of  Agriculture. 


New  Orleans,  August  1."),  1SS7. 

Dear  Sir:  Yrour  favor  of  the  3d  instant  to  Mr.  Dymond  came  duly  to  hand,  and 
on  the  12th  instant  we  went  to  Magnolia  and  carefully  inspected  the  work  done  and 
now  going  on  in  the  matter  of  the  proposed  experiments  in  diffusion,  and  we  would 
respectfully  report : 

That  we  found  the  cane-cutter  in  position,  as  also  the  engine  for  driving  it.  The 
shafting  and  counter-shafting  are  not  yet  in  place. 

The  hoot  of  the  Chip  conveyer  is  in  position,  but  the  conveyer  is  not  yet  erected, 
nor  is  t  here  3  el  any  device  to  deliver  the  chips  from  the  cutter  to  the  hoot  of  1  he  con- 
veyer, and  we  understand  Mr.  Bartheleny  to  say  that  none  has  been  provided. 

Tin-  diffusers  were  all  in  position  upon   the  foundations  and  columns,  hut  were  not 

connected  by  any  pipe-work,  and  no  platforms  or  doors  were  yet  constructed  about 

them. 

The  oars  for  the  discharge  of  the  chips  were  there,  but  the  circular  track  for  them 
was  not  yet  down. 

The  c(  Id  water-supply  cistern  is  not  erected. 

The  carbonating  tanks  are  in  position  and  connected  together  and  ready  for  con- 
nection w  it  h  t  he  diffusion  bal  bery. 

The  air-compressing  pump  and  the  air-receiver,  to  dry  the  exhausted  chips,  were 
t  here,  and  t  he  former  in  posit  ion. 

The  Lime-kiln  is  completed  except  the  placing  of  the  top  casting  in  position  and  the 

erecting  of  the  house  and  plat  forms  around  it 

The  washing  arrangement  for  the  oarbonic-acid  gas  and  the  pump  to  force  the  gas 

into  the  oarbonating  tanks  are  all  in  position  ami  connected. 

The  pump  to  take  the  juice  from  t  he  cai  In  mat  ing  tanks  and  force  the  same  t  h  rough 

the  lilter  presses  ia  io  position]  M  are  also  the  ftltet  presses,  except  one.  that  we  were 


81 

told  was  to  come  from  Fort  Scott.     The  connections  with  the  presses  were  not  com- 
pleted. 

The  sulphuring  tanks,  and  also  the  sulphur  stoves  and  sulphur  air  pump,  were  in 
position,  and  the  lilter  presses  for  the  sulphured  juice  were  also  in  position. 

To  write  of  the  matter  more  generally,  we  should  say  that  while  there  seems  yet 
much  to  do  in  the  way  of  details,  yet  we  think  excellent  progress  has  been  made,  and 
that  unless  some  unforeseen  delay  occurs  the  apparatus  will  be  ready  in  due  time  for 
the  experiments. 

The  cane-cutter  is  a  beautiful  machine,  but  its  complete  failure  in  Demerara,  where 
its  duplicate  was  used,  and  whence  we  now  have  the  report  of  Mr.  Quintin  Hogg,  the 
proprietor,  that  it  took  forty-eight  hours  to  slice  108  tons  of  cane,  indicates  its  com- 
plete uselessness  for  the  purpose,  as  it  is  now  constructed. 

This  excites  considerable  anxiety  here,  as  with  allot  our  machinery  now  in  position 
we  are  absolutely  without  any  cutter  that  can  cut  the  canes. 

Other  cutters  may  demand  different  arrangements  of  gearing  and  shafting  that 
might  result  in  delay  if  not  at  once  considered  and  provided  for. 

Mr.  Barthelemy  thinks  that  the  difficulty  with  the  present  cutter  arises  from  the 
fact  that  the  short  ends  of  the  canes  can  not  be  held  in  position  for  the  cutters  to  act 
on  them,  and  that  a  system  of  spring  rollers  might  be  added  to  hold  these  ends  in  posi- 
tion until  the  slicing  is  completed. 

This  seems  plausible,  and  it  might  be  well  for  you  to  give  him  authority  to  experi- 
ment in  that  direction,  but  it  seems  to  be  almost  too  late  to  experiment  now,  and 
especially  so  when  we  know  that  the  failure  of  the  same  machine  has  terminated  the 
experiments  m  Demerara,  making  it  a  disaster.  Mr.  Hogg  reports  they  return  to  the 
cane-mil]  process  there  until  proper  cutters  are  provided,  lie  does  not  Beem disposed 
to  experiment  with  the  cutters. 

It  would  seem  extremely  desirable  to  provide  the  cutters  that  succeeded  in  Java,  as 
you  suggest,  and  farther  to  provide  those  you  now  have  at  Fort  Scott,  as  you  suggest, 
as  the  w  ho!.'  experiment  may  be  placed  in  peril  from  these  difficulties  in  cutting.   We 
shall  be  pleased  to  be  of  any  further  service  we  can.  and  remain, 
roars,  respectfully, 

John   DYMOND, 
Hi  m:v  -M<  ('all, 
jdrisoni  Committee, 

Dr.  H.  W.  Wiley, 

Chemist,  Department  of  Agriculture,  Wanh'iuijton,  D.  C. 

CANE-SLICK  1.'. 

[n  order  to  secure  a  multiple  feed  for  a  single  cutter  it  was  deter- 
mined to  adopt  the  horizontal  disk  system.  Cutters  of  this  kind  not 
being  made  in  this  country,  it  was  necessary  to  purchase  one  in  Europe, 

The  cutter  bail!  by  the  Bangerhauser  Company,  of  Sangerhausen, 
Germany,  was  selected.   This  cutter  was  guarantied  to  give  from  200 

to  250  tons  of  Chips  per  twenty  lour  hours,  suitable  lor  diffusion. 

This    Slicing -machine  j  having   been  tried    in    Demerara   in   the   early 

summer,  proved  inefficient.    To  guard  against   failure  from  lack  of  a 
proper  cutter,  another  machine  which  had  already  proved  successful  in 
Java  was  ordered  from  the  Sudenburg  Company  of  Madgeburg. 
The  small  cutter,  with  a  horizontal  disk,  tried  at  Fort  Scott  last  year, 

was  also  seat  to  New  York  for  certain  alterations,  and  thence  to  Mag- 
nolia.   Unfortunately  the  new   knives  sent  with  the  machine  had  pot 
15449— No,  17 Q 


82 

been  properly  tempered,  and  this  prevented  the  use  of  this  cutter  for 
the  preliminary  experiments. 

Mr.  R.  Sieg,  of  Xew  Orleans,  who  had  had  large  experience  in  work- 
ing cane-cutters  in  Louisiana  in  1874  and  the  following  years,  was  also 
instructed  to  build  a  cutter  with  vertical  disk  and  multiple  feed.  We 
found,  however,  that  the  time  at  his  disposal  was  too  short  to  permit 
the  building  of  such  a  machine  as  he  desired. 

On  October  6,  I  received  the  following  instructions : 

You  are  hereby  instructed  to  go  to  Fort  Scott,  Kans..  and  after  inspecting  the  work 
of  the  Department  there  in  the  manufacture  of  sugar,  you  will  proceed  to  Lawrence, 
La.,  to  conduct  the  work  of  the  Department  at  that  place  in  the  application  of  diffu- 
sion to  the  extraction  of  sugar  from  sngar-cane. 

You  are  also  authorized  to  travel  between  Magnolia  Station  and  New  Orleans  as 
often  as  may  be  necessary  to  secure  the  proper  conduct  of  public  business. 
Very  respectfully, 

Norman  J.  Colman, 

Commissiuiur. 

In  obedience  to  the  above  instructions  I  reached  Magnolia  on  the 
evening  of  October  17,1887.  The  experimental  work  was  conducted 
without  being  complicated  by  the  use  of  any  process  or  machinery  in 
which  any  one  in  the  employment  of  the  Department  had  any  patented 
or  financial  interest  whatever.  The  sole  object  in  view  was  to  benefit 
those  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  sugar  in  all  parts  of  the  country. 
Experiments  conducted  at  public  expense  should,  in  my  opinion,  be  for 
the  public  good,  and  not  for  the  benefit  of  a  private  individual  or  cor- 
poration. 

On  the  morning  of  the  19th  the  diffusion  building  was  badly  injured 
by  a  cyclone.  The  water  tank  to  supply  the  battery,  together  with  the 
tower  supporting  it,  was  blown  on  to  Governor  Warmoth's  sugar-house, 
causing  great  damage.  Nearly  a  month  was  required  to  repair  the  dam- 
age and  restore  the  building  and  apparatus  to  the  condition  in  which  it 
was  before  the  storm. 

The  delays  incident  to  the  working  of  new  machinery  were  numerous. 
The  original  plan  contemplated  having  all  the  machinery  ready  by  the 
1st  of  October,  thus  permitting  a  series  of  preliminary  trials  extending 
over  a  month  before  the  regular  season  began. 

Instead  of  this,  however,  unavoidable  delays,  incident  to  the  imper- 
fections of  the  machinery  and  the  damage  of  the  storm,  postponed  even 
the  preliminary  experiments  until  the  beginning  of  December. 

A  recital  of  the  details  of  these  delays  would  only  lengthen  the  re" 
port  without  adding  anything  to  its  value.  It  must  be  said,  however, 
in  this  connection  that  the  gentlemen  associated  with  me  worked  ear- 
nestly and    faithfully   through   all   the   discouragements  attending  the 

preparation  of  the  machinery. 

Mr.  Ernest  Bchulze,  representing  the  Sangerhauser  Company,  was 
also  present,  and  rendered  valuable  assistance  in  putting  his  cane* 

sheer  in  working  older. 


83 


The  numerous  defects  in  the  battery  and  the  cutter  having  been 
remedied,  the  apparatus  of  the  Colwell  Company  was  accepted  on  De- 
cember 11,  1887. 

Mr.  A.  W.  Colwell,  the  president  of  the  company,  was  present  during 
the  final  trials  of  the  battery,  and  rendered  valuable  assistance  in 
putting  it  into  working  order.  The  defects  in  both  cutter  and  battery 
were  of  a  minor  character,  but  were  such  as  to  greatly  delay  the  use  of 
new  machinery  for  new  purposes.  The  final  working  of  all  the  machin- 
ery was  excellent  and  satisfactory.  The  season's  experiments,  how- 
ever, disclosed  many  improvements  of  a  seemingly  trivial  nature,  but 
by  the  adoption  of  which  a  more  economical  working  of  the  diffusion 
process  can  be  secured.  These  improvements  will  be  discussed  in 
another  place. 

The  first  results  from  the  experiments  were  obtained  from  the  run  of 
December  3,  1887. 

The  juice  was  treated  with  .3  per  cent,  its  weight  of  lime,  and  after 
the  precipitation  of  the  lime  with  carbonic  dioxide,  an  amount  of  lignite 
equal  to  10  per  cent,  of  the  weight  of  the  sugar  present  was  added. 

The  juice  filtered  readily  through  the  presses,  forming  firm,  hard 
cakes.  The  filtered  juice  was  treated  with  phosphate  of  soda,  15  pounds 
of  this  salt  being  added  for  each  5,000  pounds  of  juice. 

The  phosphate  produced  an  abundant  llocculent  precipitate,  whirl) 
filtered  easily  through  the  twin  filter  presses,  giving  a  juice  of  remark 
able  limpidity.     The  massecuitc,  however,  was  dark,  and  the  molasses 
much  inferior  in  color  to  that  made  by  the  use  of  bone-black  and  ordi- 
nary clarification. 

The  phosphate  of  soda  did  not  produce  as  favorable  results  as  had 
been  expected,  and  its  further  use  was  discontinued. 

Following  are  the  data  obtained  in  the  first  run : 
First  diffusion  run,  December  :>,  186 


Total 
solids. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Juice  from  chips: 

15.20 
14.45 

12.01 
LI.  92 

1.00 

1  02 

Third 



15.03 

12.20 

.  '.".i 

Diffusion  J  . 

.8.'! 



ml 

8. 7t; 



Exha  :~-i<  'I  chips: 

Third  •ample 







Carhonatated  |nies 

.11 

Waste  m  >'■  \ 

Semi-sii  up    

First  bo 

i   

Beoond  sugar 

11.11 

84 

Cane  used tons..        80.3 

First  susrar  per  ton pounds..      146. 1 

Second  sugar  per  ton do 40. 1 

Total  first  and  second  sugars 186.2 

Third  sugar 15.  0 

Pounds. 

The  total  sugar  in  the  eauo  at  90  per  cent,  juice  was 220.  6 

Of  this  there  was  obtained  14G.1  pounds  at  97.50 144.4 

And  40.1  pound*  at  91.  6  86.  7 

Total  pure  sucrose  obtained. 181.1 

Left  in  chips 14.6 

Total  left  in  molasses  and  lost  in  manufacturing 24.  9 

(Note.—  The  third  sugar  will  not  be  dried  until  in  May  or  June,  1888.  The  esti- 
mates of  third  sugar  have  been  made  by  Mr.  E.  C.  Barthelemy.) 

EXTRACTION. 

The  percentage  of  sucrose  left  in  the  spent  chips  was  .73.  Sucrose 
in  cane  was  11.03  per  cent.  The  per  cent,  of  extraction  is  therefore 
11.03  -  .73  =  10.30  -r  11.03  x  100  =  93.4. 

SECOND  TRIAL. 

Another  trial  was  made  of  the  diffusion  machinery  beginning'  Decem- 
ber 9.  Carbonatation  was  again  used,  but  without  lignite  or  any  fori  her 
treatment.  The  juice  passed  directly  from  the  filter  presses  to  the 
double  effect  pan. 

The  quantity  of  lime  employed  was  .G  per  cent,  the  weight  of  the 
juice.  The  filtration  was  perfect.  The  experiment  was  remarkable  in 
showing  that  a  perfect  defecation  can  be  made  with  carbonatation  with  a 
much  smaller  percentage  of  lime  than  had  been  supposed  necessary. 

The  masse  cuite  was  dark,  but  the  sugar  a  fair  yellow. 

Following  are  the  data  of  the  run  : 

Second  diffusion  run.  December  9,  1887. 


Frcsli  chips: 

-1  sample. . . 

iiid  sample. 

Third  sample.. 

Fourth  sample. 

Fifth  sample. .. 

Diffusion  juice: 

First  sample... 

ond  sample 

Third  sample.. 

■tli   sample 

i  iti ii  sample.  .< 

III.  .1  juice 

Km  ^i  sample  . 

nml   sample 

Third  sample 
ii i h  sample 


Total 
solids. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

rer  cent. 

Per  cent. 

11  66 

11.70 

1.04 

15.  65 

13  64 

,78 

15.70 

.78 

L5.50 

18.02 

.81 

L4.00 

11.  18 

LOS 

14.08 

12.01 

.88 

9.  86 

7.83 

.07 

8.  67 

7  85 

.  58 

0.  c* 

7.  (11 

.  56 

16,  10 

8  69 

.91 

lit.  -jo 

8.45 

.78 

9.  GO 

7.90 

.09 

0  L9 

7.  78 

.  88 

8  71 

.57 

10.  L'O 

.66 

11      10 

8  |  0 

.7:i 

9.80 

8.10 

.61 

85 


Second  diffusion  ran,  Deoem^er9t  L887— Continued. 


Total 
sohda. 


Sucrose. 


Glucose. 


Exhausted  chips: 
First  sample. .. 
Second  sample. 
Third  sample.. 
Fourth  sample. 
Fifth  sample... 


Per  cent. 

1.58 

1.69 

.48 

.32 

.40 


Per  cent. 


Average 


Semi-sirup 

First  sugar 

Molasses  from  firsts. 
Second  sugar 


47.70 
72.20 


86 


9(5.  60 

42. -4(1 
87.30 


2.96 
'i6.*50 


Pounds 

Yield  of  first  sugar  per  ton 1 28 

Yield  of  second  sugar  per  ton 43 

Cane  used,  tons 90 

Tbe  total  sugar  in  the  cane  at  90  per  cent,  juice  was per  ton..  226.  98 

Oft  bese  there  was  obtained  128  pounds  at96.6 123.  6 

And  43  pounds  at  87.3 37.  5 

Total  pure  sucrose  obtained pet  ton..  161.  l 

Pure  sucrose  left  in  chips do  17.  8 

Pure  sucrose  left  in  molasses  and  lost  in  manufacture do  41. 1 

Third  sugar  estimated do  17.  0 

Percentage  sugar  in  cane  extracted  92. 16 

The  poor  yield  was  due  to  use  of  tbick  chips  during  the  first  part  of 
the  run,  causing  a  loss  of  l.G  per  cent,  sucrose  in  the  chips. 
Following  are  the  analytical  data  of  the  run  : 

THIRD   TRIAL. 


In  this  run  the  use  of  carbonatation  and  lignite  was  discontinued. 
The  diffusion  juices  were  treated  with  sulphur  fumes  until  well  satu 
rated.  They  were  then  treated  with  lime  and  clarified  in  the  usual 
way. 

The  clarification  took  place  readily.  The  quantity  of  scums  was  very 
small,  and  the  sediment  subsided  rapidly,  forming  a  thin  Layer  on  the 
bottom  of  the  tank,  permitting  the  clear  liquor  to  be  easily  and  com- 
pletely drawn  oil'.  The  juice  passed  at  once  from  the  clarilieis  to  the 
double  effect  pan  and  subsequently  received  no  further  purification. 


86 


Following-  are  the  analytical  data  obtained: 

Third  diffusion  run  December  10  and  11,  1888. 


Fresh  chips: 

First  sample  .. 

•  ml  sample 

Third  sample.. 


Average. 


Diffusion  juice: 
First  sample.. 
Second  sample. 
Third  sample.. 


Sulphured  juice: 
First  samplo  .. 
>nd  sample. 


Total 
solids. 


14,39 
12.77 
14.  49 


13.88 


9.42 
<J.  41 
9.55 


9.4G 


Sucrose. 


Per  cent. 
11.89 
10.68 
12.  U6 


11.53 


Glucose. 


Per  cent. 
.79 
.77 


.78 


7.82 

7.  ,-7 


7.85 


83 


9.  09 

9.12 


j      9. 40 


Clarified  ju 

First  sample  ., 

ond  sample. 

Third  sample.. 

Average 


Exhausted  chips: 

Fust  sample... 

ond  sample. 

Third  samplo.. 

!•  ninth  sample . 


9.  95 
9.89 
10.32 


10.05 


Average. 


nip 

Fust  sugar 

ses  i'rom  first  sugar 


8.17 


7.85  I 


02 


8.21 
8.06 
8.39 


.75 


44.70 
"72."  90 


34.00 
96.30 
30.70 


.07 
.63 

.71 


67 


2.87 


12.07 


First  sugar,  per. too pounds..      143 

Number  tons  oane  used. 110 

The  molasses  from  the  first  sugar  was  boiled  to  string  proof,  and  put 
in  wagons.  A  good  crystallization  of  second  sugar  was  secured  but, 
the  molasses  having  been  left  too  acid,  a  good  separation  was  not  se- 
cured. Mr,  Barthelemy  therefore  decided  to  reboil  the  molasses  with 
some  of  the  product  of  the  mill  process,  and  therefore  no  statement  of 
the  quantity  of  second  sugar  can  be  given.  1 1  was  estimated  at  30  pounds 
per  ton. 

The  cane  from  which  this  run  was  made  was  grown  on  new  back  land 
and  was  the  poorest  of  the  whole  season. 

The  percentage  of  sugar  extracted  of  total  sugar  in  cane  was  92.80. 

POUB  ill    TRIAL. 

In  this  run  the  diffusion  juice  was  treated  with  linn1  until  almost  neu- 
tral.     It  was  then  boiled,  skimmed,  and  allowed  to  set  tie.     The  scums 

and  sediments  were  of  small  volume  and  were  all  returned  to  the  bat- 
tery. 
The  juice  received  no  other  treatment  whatever  for  clarification.    It 

was  converted  to  sirup  in  a  double  effecl  vacuum  pan.  The  capacity  of 
this  pan  was  not  quite  great  enough  lo  evaporate  the  juice  as  fast  as 
famished   by  the  battery,      For  this  reason   the  run  which  might  have 


87 

been  finished  in  two  days  occupied  a  part  of  a  third  day.     The  quantity 
of  cane  worked  was  200  tons. 

Following  is  a  record  of  the  analytical  data  obtained  : 

Fourth  diffusion  run  December  29,  30,  and  31,  1887. 


Juices  from  fresh  chips : 

A.  M.,  first  dav 

P.  M.,  first  day 

Midnight,  first  day 

A.  M.,  second  day 

Midnight,  second  dav 
A.  M.,  third  dav  ...... 

P.M.,  third  dav 


Average  fresh  chip  juice  for  run 


Diffusion  juices: 

-t  sample,  first  day 

ond  sample,  first  day  — 

Third  sample,  first  day   

Fourth  sample,  first  day  . . . 
I      }t  sample,  second  dav.  .. 

ond  sample,  second  day. 
Third  sample,  second  day.. 
First  sample,  thud  day    ... 

ond  sample,  third  day... 


Average  diffusion  juice  fir  run . 


Clarified  juices: 

Average  for  first  day  

r  second  day  .. 
First  Bample.  third  day  .. 
Second  sample,  third  day. 
Third  sample,  thud  day. . 


_<•  clarified  juice  for  run. 


Juices  from  exhausted  chips: 

■  day 

i  sample,  first  day  .. 

Third  s  unple,  fli  st  dav  . . . 

■  nd  day. . 
cond  day 

Third  sample,  second  day 
sample,  third  day  . . . 
d  Bample,  third  dav.. 

Third  sample,  third  day. . . 


I  clap  juice  for  run. 


Bemi-sirun  for  first  strike 

I  rike 

near  from  first  strike 

ea  from  fust  strike 

nd  strike 

aite 



ond  strike 

1 

Pound  per  t<>u      

Per  ceo  acted  obtained  in  firsts 


Total 
solids. 


Sucrose. 


16.46 
17.27 
1 7.  26 
17.13 
10.  07 
1G.10 
16.  26 


16.70 


10. 


10.  T.-» 
11.77 
12.01 
11. til 
11.25 


11.48 


14.60 


8.71 
9.01 
10  16 
9.  :»i 
9.87 
it.  69 
9.  77 
0.3] 
9.69 


Glucose. 


Per  cent. 
.49 
.4i 

.43 
.4.-. 
.54 
.61 

.50 

.49 


n.  34 
10.36 

9.51 


9.87 


36 


.  52 

.61 

1.12 
.72 

1.09 

1.10 


31 


76.  22 


l.  19 


ID pounds 

Third  sagai  pei  ton  (estimated) d<> 

Dane,  used   tooi 

1  III  II     I  KI  M.. 

The  fifth  and  last  ran  of  the  diffusion  battery  was  began  <»n  January 
11  and  finished  on  the  L8th.  This  trial  was  made  after  the  milling 
work  had  been  completed.    The  diffusion  juices  were  treated  precisely 

•On  February  29  1  waa  Informed  bj  letter  from  Governor  Warmoth  thai  the  third 
mil;. us  in, in  the  fourth  ran  had  been  di  led  and  ireighed,  j  Ieldlng  3,723  ponndfl  oi  18.6 
pounds  per  ton. 


88 


the  same  way  as  the  mill  juices  had  beeu,  and  after  passing  over  bone- 
black  were  concentrated  to  sirup  in  a  Yaryan  quadruple  effect,  which 
had  been  in  use  with  the  mill  juices  during  the  manufacturing  season. 
The  working  of  all  the  machinery  during  this  final  trial  was  admira- 
ble, and  the  even  march  of  the  whole  work  promoted  the  efficiency  of 
the  machinery  and  the  successful  manipulation  of  the  juice. 

Analytical  data  of  fifth  run. 


X... 

Brix. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

No.                     Brix. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Fresh  chips : 

397 

16.87 
16.39 

16.  39 
17.09 
16.86 
17.16 
16.93 
17.00 
16.70 
16.79 

17.  19 
16.73 
17.11 
16.17 
16.17 
16.60 
10.63 
16.77 
16.23 
16.03 
16.07 
16.  84 
16.37 
16.  51 
16.94 
16.57 

Per  cent. 
14.  23 
13.45 
13.79 
14.73 
12.11 
14.73 
14.06 
14.50 
13.93 
14.11 
14.17 
14.19 
14.  55 
13.48 
13:  43 
13.99 
14.39 
14.28 
13.  29 
13.79 
13.35 
14  34 
13.54 
14.17 
14.38 
14.52 

Per  cent. 
.74 
.87 
.89 
.68 
.  7"> 
.64 
.70 
.61 
.73 
.74 
.61 
.  59 
.61 
.7:. 
.76 
.63 
.65 
.63 
.77 
.76 
.85 
.61 
.82 
.70 
.65 
.63 

_ ."89" 
.59 

.70 

Diffusion  juices— con- 
tinued. 
450 

9.88 
10.87 

9.89 
10.67 
10.47 
10.17 
10.15 
10.31 
10.  59 

9.69 

Per  cent. 
8.12 
9.00 

""aii" 

8.01 
&  02 
7.86 

7.92 
S.  26 

7.  .">;; 

400 

43 

403 

453 

.38 

405 

460 

.45 

408 

466 

.61 

411   

469 

7> 

414 

473 

.48 

417 

47-5 

479 

.  48 

420 

.47 

423 

485 

491 

.  51 

426 

.61 

499 

437 

9.28 
7.  53 
8.41 

72 

440 

.31 

443 

.47 

Exhausted  chips: 
399 

449 

.52 
.21 

.52 
.  32 
.  52 

.41 
.83 

.42 
.42 
.55 

.42 
.50 
.50 
.42 

.40 

.  69 

.51 
.42 
.    '.' 
.43 
.51 

.84 

!48 

r6"9~ 

.21 
.  11 

452. 

459 

402  .. 

465  .. 

407 

468 

410 

472 

413  .. 

475 

416 

478 

419... 

481  .. 

4" 

490 .. . 

425     . 

14.73 
12.11 
13.98 

*   431 

439  . 

11.37 
10.  67 
10.01 
10.38 
11.01 
10.91 
10.71 
10.65 
10.  57 
10.52 

10.  or, 

10.27 
10.73 

49.5 

442 

415 

Diffusion  juices  : 
398 

9.28 
8.66 
8.92 

8.  53 
9.10 
8  60 
8.76 
8.77 
8.51 
8.90 

9.  05 
8.  Pi 
8.91 
8.  '.>'.i 
7.68 

.60 
.61 
.49 
.41 
.45 
.48 
.40 

.40 
.44 
.46 

.  85 
.  15 
.42 

.:;i 

448   

451 

401 

454 

404 

401 

409   

467  .. 

412   .. 

470 

415  

474 

418   .. 

477 

421 

424 

427      . 

492 

43H... 

4*1 

441   .. 

417 

The  molasses  from  the  first  sugars  being  very  rich,  the  method  of  re- 
boiling  to  grain  was  employed.  To  this  end  the  molasses  of  the  first 
st  rike,  having  been  reduced  to  55  to  <>o  per  cent. of  total  solids,  was  boiled 

on  a  nucleus  of  first  sugar  left  in  the  pan  from  the  second  strike.  In 
this  way  all  the  molasses  was  boded  to  grain  with  most  gratifying  re- 
sults except  that  from  the  last  strike  of  the  first  sugars. 

The  attempt  to  boil  this  to  grain  did  not  succeed  in  giving  a  masse 
(Mite  Which  could  be  dried    with  ease.      The  molasses  running  from    the 

machines  was  so  thick  that  it  clogged  them  up.    Seven  Large  s agar 

wagons  were  tilled  with  this  material  and  set  in  the  hot  room. 


89 

The  sugars  made  were  equal  in  every  respect  to  those  obtained  by  will- 
ing in  similar  instances.  Without  counting  the  second  sugar  above 
named,  the  grained  sugar  per  ton  amounted  to  181.5  pounds.  The 
grained  sugars  in  wagons  will  yield  not  less  than  7,500  pounds  or  1 8 
pounds  per  ton.* 

The  third  sugars  are  estimated  by  Mr.  Barthelemy  at  not  less  than  10 
pounds  per  ton. 

The  total  yield  per  ton  of  the  fifth  run  will  reach  therefore  215.5.  The 
number  of  tons  of  cane  used  was  417. 

Summary  of  results. 


Number  of  run. 


1 
'J 
3 
4 
5 


Mean 

Mean 

Cane. 

sucrose 

glucose 

in  juice. 

in  juice. 

Tons. 

Per  cent. 

Per  cent. 

80.  3 

12  26 

.99 

90.0 

12.61 

.68 

110.0 

11.53 

.78 

2  0.0 

14.60 

.4!) 

417.0 

13.  98 

.70 

Sugar 

grained 

in  pan  per 

ton.  First 

sugar. 


Pounds. 

1-28.0 
143.0 

181.5 


Wagon  sugar  per 
ton. 

Total 
per  tun 

Second 
sugar. 

Third 
sugar  (es- 
timated). 

Pounds. 

40.1 
43.0 

*30.0 
4;\9 

*18.0 

Pounds. 

15 
18 
12 
18 
16 

Pounds. 

201.2 
189  0 

185.0 

*  Estimated. 

t  A.  tiutl  weight,  16  ::  pounds  per  (on,  and  213.8  pounds  total  Bugai  -  pei  ton.    '1  lie  third  sugars  from 
tliis  inn  were  mixi  <l  w  nli  molasw  b  from  the  mill  products,  and  uo  separate  retni  d  of  it  will  be  made. 

COMPARATIVE   YIELDS  BY    MILLING    AM)   nil  it  sn 

The  yield  in  first  <>r  grained  sugars  affords  the  best  a  mparison  of 
the  two  systems  of  manufacture.  Judged  by  this  standard  the  diffu- 
sion process  had  given  a  yield  of  sugar  fully  30  pounds  per  ton  greater 
than  was  afforded  by  milling.  For  further  data  on  this  point  Bee  the 
report  of  Governor  Warmotb  farther  on. 

CHAB  LCI  ERISTICS  or    mi  l  CJSION   JUIC1 

The  juice  of  diffusion  differs  from  the  mill  juice  chiefly  in  its  content 

of  water.      In  addition  to  this,   also,  must    bo    noted   a  Blight  increase  in 

the  ratio  of  glue  >se  to  sue  ios,«.    'i  his  is  due  doubt  loss  to  a  Blight  inver- 
sion of  the  sucrose  during  the  proce  -  ofdiffusiou.     Prom  a  commercial 

•  ill,-  actual  3  ield  reported  i<>  d  i  Wannoth, 

pounds,  or  16.3  [><>nmis  pei  ton, 


90 

point  of  view  the  loss  is  insignificant  Further,  it  may  be  said  that 
there  appeared  to  be  in  the  diffusion  juice  treated  in  the  ordinary  way 
a  slightly  increased  amount  of  gummy  matter.  This  was  noticed  only 
in  filtering  the  sirup  through  bone-black.  In  the  strike-pan  and  the 
centrifugal  the  products  of  diffusion  worked  fully  as  well  as  those  from 
the  mill. 

DISPOSITION  OF   CHIPS. 

An  attempt  was  made  to  pass  the  chips  through  the  five-roll  mill,  but 
it  was  found  impracticable.  The  first  rolls  would  not  take  them  easily, 
and  the  secoud  set  of  rolls  had  to  be  opened  somewhat  to  secure  the 
proper  feed.  The  bagasse  issuing  from  the  mill  contained  still  G5  per 
cent,  water  and  made  a  poor  fuel. 

It  would  probably  not  be  a  difficult  problem  to  so  adjust  the  mill  as 
to  secure  a  proper  drying  of  the  chips.  To  return  the  chips  to  the  soil, 
however,  appears  to  be  the  most  rational  method  of  disposing  of  them. 

It  is  true  that  if  spread  too  thickly  on  the  soil  the  chips  may  prove 
highly  injurious,  but  if  distributed  in  a  thin  layer,  covering  almost  if 
not  quite  the  original  acreage  of  the  cane  furnishing  them,  they  would 
certainly  prove  advantageous.  The  chips  would  not  only  furnish  or- 
ganic matter  to  the  soil  and  thus  increase  its  porosity,  but  they  also 
contain  still  a  considerable  part  of  nitrogenous  matter,  which  would 
afford  a  valuable  plant  food.  Even  the  richest  land  should  be  treated 
fairly,  and  the  cane-field  should  receive  as  nearly  as  possible  as  much 
as  it  gives.  The  additional  cost  of  replacing  the  chips  on  the  field  is  a 
matter  which  should  receive  attention  here,  but  the  benefit  will  appar- 
ently be  greater  than  the  expense.  During  the  manufacturing  season 
the  chips  can  be  deposited  in  large  beds,  which  subsequently  can  be 
transferred  to  the  field.  If  time  for  the  partial  decay  of  the  chips 
should  be  desired,  the  accumulation  of  one  season  need  not  be  moved 
until  the  following  year. 

DISPOSITION   OF   SCUMS  AND   SEDIMENTS. 

The  scums  and  sediments  were  successfully  treated  by  the  process  of 
carbonatation.  The  expense  of  a  lime-kiln  is  not  necessary  for  this 
work.  It  was  satisfactorily  done  by  drawing  the  carbonic  dioxide  gas 
directly  from  the  stack  of  the  boilers.  As  high  as  11  per  cent  of  C02 
was  found  in  the  gases  from  this  source. 

The  scums,  etc.,  heated  with  2  to  3  per  cent,  of  lime,  are  subjected  to 
the  action  of  the  gas  until  the  lime  is  precipitated.  They  then  can  be 
easily  and  rapidly  altered. 

By  means  of  a  cheap  and  convenient  montc  jus  the  scums  and  sedi- 
ments were  also  ret  urned  to  the  battery.    The  method  of  operating  was 

as  follows  : 

The  scums  and  sediments  from  the  clnrilieis  were  collected  in  a  tank 

furnished  with  a  steam  coil  to  keep  them  at  the  boiling  temperature. 


91 

This  tank  was  connected  with  a  moate  ju.s  of  50  liters  capacity.  This 
apparatus  was  connected  with  the  compressed-air  service  used  in  oper- 
ating the  battery.  It  was  so  arranged  that  the  master  of  diffusion,  or 
his  assistant,  could  operate  it  directly  from  the  central  column  of  the 
battery. 

After  each  cell  wa  •  filled  with  chips,  50  liters  of  the  scums  were  run 
into  the  montejus  from  the  storage  tank,  and,  by  means  of  compressed 
air,  poured  into  the  full  cell.  The  process  of  diffusion  was  then  con- 
tinued in  the  usual  way.  The  quantity  of  liquid  drawn  from  each  cell 
was  increased  by  the  amount  of  scums  added.  For  instance,  if  900 
liters  were  the  amount  regulurly  drawn,  9.30  would  be  taken  from  a  cell 
to  which  the  scums  had  been  added,  as  above  indicated. 

No  deterioration  of  the  diffusion  juice  could  be  detected  in  using  this 
method. 

This  procedure  was  also  used  during  the  progress  of  the  work  con- 
ducted by  the  Department  at  Fort  Scott  during  the  season  of  1SS7.  1 
have  been  told  that  a  patent  has  been  applied  for  to  cover  this  process, 
and  have  therefore  placed  on  record  the  experiments  made  at  Lawrence 
for  the  public  benefit. 

TUE   USE   OF  LIGNITE. 

In  order  to  get  lignite  of  the  best  possible  variety  and  in  the  best 
form  for  use,  a  few  tons  of  the  ground  article  were  purchased  from  the 
inventor  of  the  process  of  filtering  with  brown  coal,  Mr.  Fritz  Kleeman, 
of  Schouigen,  Germany. 

I  have  already  alluded  to  the  successful  use  of  lignite  in  conjunction 
with  lime  and  carbonic  acid. 

This  experiment,  however,  did  not  show  that  any  beneficial  effects 
were  produced  by  the  introduction  of  the  lignite. 

Afterwards  experiments  were  made  by  Mr.  Kleeman  himself,  using 
lignite  alone.    Mr.  Kleeman  said  the  arrangement  of  the  clarifj  Lng  tanks 

was  not  suitable  to  the  process.  The  filter  cloths  were  soon  dogged  and 
the  attempt  at  filtration  had  to  be  abandoned. 

Later  in  the  season  1  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  YY.  .1.  Thompson,  of 
Calumet  Plantation,  in  which  he  said  that  he  would  make  a  trial  of  the 
process  under  more  favorable  conditions  t  nan  obtained  at  Magnolia,  and 
requesting  me  to  .send  him  enough  of  the  Kleeman  lignite  for  that  pur- 
pose. This  1  gladly  did.  Mr.  Thompson  made  a  run  of  nineteen  clari- 
li«i  j  with  lignite,  but  found  so  many  difficulties  at  tending  the  work  that 
its  further  pn  abandoned.1     On  the  other  hand,  Prof< 

Stubbs,  at  Ken ner,  working  with  a  small  press,  secured  results  that 
were  highlj  satisfactory. 

The  results  of  the  work  with  lignite  show— 

(l)  Thai  on  a  ! .i  le  tic  nitration  takes  place  with  groat  « 1  i 1 1  i 

cultv,  unless  a  very  great  quantity  of  the  lignite  be  used  and  the  juice 

be  neutral  or  slightly  alkaline. 


92 

(2)  That  with  a  slight  excess  of  lime,  precipitated  with  carbonic  acid, 
lignite  can  be  successfully  used  to  increase  the  filtering  surface. 

(3)  The  decolorizing  power  of  lignite  varies  with  the  nature  of  the 
sample.  In  some  cases  this  property  is  present  in  a  high  degree ;  in 
others,  entirely  absent. 

(4)  The  successful  working  of  the  process  on  a  small  scale  would 
indicate  that  it  might  be  worked  commercially. 

(5)  In  juices  as  pure  as  those  of  sugar-canes,  filtration  through  lig- 
nite, even  if  easily  done,  does  not  seem  to  be  necessary. 

I  had  expected  to  have  Mr.  Thompson's  complete  report  on  the 
experiments  with  lignite  before  this  time,  but  it  has  not  yet  been  re- 
ceived. 

COMPARATIVE   YIELD  FROM  MILL   AND   DIFFUSION  BATTERY. 

The  comparative  yield  from  the  cane-mill  and  the  diffusion  battery 
is  given  by  Governor  Warmoth  in  a  paper  read  before  the  Planter's 
Association  at  the  February  meeting,  viz : 

The  first  cane  worked  was  from  second-year  stubble,  and  it  gave  us  14G  pounds  of 
first  sugar  to  the  ton  and  40  pounds  of  seconds. 

The  molasses  was  put  into  the  cisterns  with  the  other,  and  we  can  not  give  any 
estimate  of  t ho  thirds.  Our  mill  gave  us  145  pounds  first  and  second  sugars  from  this 
cane. 

The  next  test  was  from  some  green  caue,  grown  on  new  land,  yielding  28  tons  of 
cane  per  acre — considerably  blown  down  and  sprouted  in  a  small  degree.  This  had 
much  less  sugar  in  it  than  the  first  caue.  Yet  we  got  T28  pounds  of  first  sugar  and  43 
pounds  second  sugar  per  ton  from  it. 

Our  mill  gave  us  J  40  pounds  of  first  and  second  sugar  per  ton  from  this  caue. 

The  next  run  gave  us  165.5  pounds  firsts,  45.9  of  seconds;  total, 211.4  pounds,  with 
thirds  in  the  wagons,  which  wo  estimate  will  give  us  15  pounds  more,  a  total  of  226.4 
pounds. 

The  next  rim  was  Oil  450  tons  of  cane,  beginning  on  the  13th  of  January,  ending  OH 
the  18th.  This  cane  was  rich  and  fine.  It  had  been  killed  on  the  26th  of  December, 
was  not  windrowed,  but  was  in  fine  condition.  From  this  caue  diffusion  gave  us  181 
pounds  of  first  sugar  and  grained  seconds,  with  enough  left  in  the  wagons  to  bring  it 
Dp  to  223  pounds.  From  this  cane  we  got  193  pounds  of  first  and  second  sugar  by  our 
mill.* 

All  of  this  shows  about  the  same  difference  bet  ween  diffusion  and  our  in  ill- work  of 

about  35  pounds  of  sugar  per  ton  of  cane.  I  do  not  mean  to  be  invidious  when  I  say 
that  I  think  we  got  a  Little  better  extraction  by  our  mill  than  any  of  our  neighbors. 
My  friend,  Mr.  Dan  Thompson,  gol  more  sugar  to  the  ton  of  cane  in  1886  than  we  did, 

but  this  result  was  obtained  not  BO  much  by  bis  extraction  as  by  the  skillful  work  in 
the  balance  of  his  house,  in  which  I  firmly  believe  the  equal  does  not  exist  in  Lou- 
isiana. 

It  Is  safe  to  say  thai  the  average  yield  per  ton  of  oane  in  the  State  Is  not  over  110 
pounds.    I  believe  diffusion  will  bring  the  average  up  to  within  the  neighborhood  of 

200  pounds— a  gain  of  certainly  75  pounds,  and  perhaps  90  pounds,  per  ion  of  cane. 

"  Mr.  Thompson's  report  was  received  March  5,    See  Appendix  I'.. 
\<  »ii..—  In  nspect  of  i  h«'  last  run,  the  analytical  data  show  that  the  oane  worked  by 
the  mill  during  its  last  run,  from  which  193  pounds  per  ton  were  made,  was  richer  iu 

lucrose  by  nearly  l  per  cent,  than  that  worked  at  the  last  diffusion  run. 


93 

My  nearest  neighbor,  Mr.  Bradish  Johnson,  obtained  the  past  season  136  pounds  of 
sugar  per  ton  of  cane.  We  are  within  3  miles  of  each  other;  our  land  is  much  the 
same  ;  our  cultivation  is  substantially  the  same.  It  is  fair  to  assume  his  cane  was  as 
rich  as  mine,  jet  we  had  about  175  pounds  of  all  sugar  per  ton,  a  difference  of  39 
pounds  of  sugar  per  ton  on  our  mill-work,  and  about  71  pounds  difference  on  the  dif- 
fusion work.     Take  his  estate  for  illustration: 

His  10,000  tons  of  cane  gave  him  1,390,000  pounds  of  sugar.  Had  he  worked  his 
crop  by  diffusion  he  would  certainly  have  had  70  pounds  more  sugar  to  the  ton  of 
cane.  This  would  have  increased  his  yield  700,000  pounds  of  sugar,  which,  at  5$ 
cents  per  pound,  would  have  given  him  $38,500  more  for  his  crop  than  he  received. 

Take  my  own  crop  of  13,300  tons  of  cane.  Had  1  worked  it  by  diffusion  I  would  have 
had  35  pounds  more  sugar  per  ton.  This  would  have  given  me  465,000  pounds  more 
sugar  than  I  obtained,  an  ")  pounds  of  sugar  from  about 

or  4,750  pounds  per  acre.  The  cash  increase  of  my  crop  would  have  been,  at  '■{  cents 
per  pound,  $25,592.50,  a  difference  to  Mr.  Johnson  of  $3.85  per  ton  of  cane,  and  to  me, 
on  my  crop,  of  $1.82$  per  ton  of  cane. 

QUANTITY   OF  JUICE   DRAWN   FROM   EACH   CELL. 

The  cane  used  for  diffusion  was  weighed  and  delivered,  chiefly  on  cars. 
to  the  cutter.  The  trash  which  becomes  detached  in  handling  the  cane 
was  collected  in  carts  and  weighed,  and  its  weight  deducted  from  the 
total.    No  account  was  taken  of  the  trash  which  entered  the  cutter. 

It  was  found  that  the  average  weight  of  chips  in  each  cell,  when  filled 
in  the  ordinary  manner,  was  1.7.57  pounds.  One  cell  filled  with  extra 
care  was  weighed,  and  the  weight  found  to  be  1,860  pounds.  It  was 
thus  seen  that  by  ca-eful  packing  it  was  easy  to  get  100  pounds  extra 
weight  of  chips  into  each  cell. 

The  quantity  of  juice  drawn  from  each  cell  varied  from  900  to  1,000 
liters,  or  from  2,059  to  2,288  pounds. 

The  mean  quantity  of  juice  drawn  for  the  fust  four  runs  was  nearly 
2,170  pounds.  Assuming  that  in  each  KM)  pounds  of  chips  there  is  IK) 
percent,  of  juice,  we  have  in  1,757  pounds  of  chips  1,581.3  pounds  of 
normal  juice. 

The  quantity  of  diffusion  juice  from  this  was  2,170  pounds.  The  in- 
crease over  normal  juice  is  therefore  589  pounds,  or  37.2  per  cent.  In 
the  last  run  a  much  greater  dilution  w as  secured,    in  order  to  get  a 

slow  current  of  the  juice  through  the  calorisators  the  master  of  diffusion 

was  instructed  to  begin  filling  the  cell  with  juice  when  it  was  about  half 

full  of  chips.      At  the  end  of  the  run  it  was  found  thai  the  introduction 
of  liquid  had  caused  a  floating  of  the  chips,  ami  that  the  weight  of  chips 
in  each  cell  has  been  greatly  diminished.    Thus  a  higher  dilution  of  the 
diffusion  juice  was  secured  than  was  intended.    The  very  p< 
haustion  of  the  chips  during  the  last  run  was  partialis  Becured  by  this 

means. 

The  mean  weight  of  chips  in  each  cell  duriug  the  last  inn  was  1,500 
pounds;  the  weight  of  normal  juice  1,350  pounds,  m  increa 

(0  per  cent.    Thjs  dilution  is  greater  than  js  necessary  fordid 


94 

work.     With  a  battery  of  sixteen  cells  I  think  the  dilution  could  be 
easily  reduced  to  30  per  cent,  and  the  extraction  be  satisfactory. 

COAL   CONSUMED. 

The  quantity  of  coal  consumed  depends  first  on  the  efficiency  of  the 
boilers  and  evaporators  employed,  secoud  on  the  quality  of  the  coal,  and 
third  on  the  dilution  of  the  juice. 

In  beet-sugar  factories  the  basis  of  computation  is  generally  based  on 
the  dilution  arising  from  drawing  ISO  pounds  of  diffusion  juice  from  each 
100  pounds  of  beet  cuttings.  In  respect  of  evaporation  what  is  found  to 
be  true  of  beet  juices  will  also  apply  to  cane  juices  of  the  same  density. 

From  the  arrangement  of  the  machinery  at  Magnolia  it  was  found 
impossible  to  measure  the  quantity  of  coal  consumed  by  the  diffusion 
work.  In  the  last  run,  when  the  milling  work  was  over,  the  centrifu- 
gals were  run  drying  seconds  and  the  vacuum  pan  boiling  thirds  during 
the  process  of  the  work. 

In  addition  to  this,  a  part  of  the  steam  used  was  furnished  by  the 
bagasse  boilers,  using  wood  and  coal  as  a  fuel — not  an  economical  method 
of  making  steam. 

As  nearly  as  could  be  estimated,  the  quantity  of  coal  required  to  make 
a  pound  of  sugar  was  2  pounds.  The  actual  quantity  of  coal  which 
would  be  required  with  the  best  boilers  and  evaporators  may  be  found 
by  consulting  Dr.  Karl  Stammer's  latest  edition  of  li  Text-book  of  Sugar 
Making,"  pages  87,3  ct  seq. 

When  ISO  pounds  juice  are  taken  for  each  100  pounds  beets  the  con- 
sumption of  coal  to  reduce  the  juice  to  a  sirup  of  GO  per  cent,  total 
solids  is  as  follows : 

Pounds. 

Willi  double-effect  pan 13.  ."> 

With  triple-effect  pan it.  10 

Willi  qnadrnple-effect  pan  <;.  ?t; 

To  reduce  the  sirup  to  masse  cuite  requires  LI  1  pounds. 

We  find,  therefore,  the  following  quantities  of  coal  necessary  for  each 
100  pounds  raw  material  giving  ISO  pounds  of  juice: 

Pounds. 

For  a  doable  effect 17.94 

For  a  triple  effect 13  54 

For  a  quadruple  effect 11.30 

\i'  now  we  take  the  ordinary  dilution   for  sugarcane,   the   following 

nnmbera  are  found : 

In  evaporating  ISO  pounds  of  diffusion  juice  from  100  pounds  cuttings 
to  00  per  cent,  sirup  156  pounds  of  water  are  evaporated.  In  evaporat- 
ing L25  pounds  Of  diffn8ion  juice  to  same  density,  only  1 01  pounds  of 
water  are  driven  off.     To  evaporate  L56  pounds  of  water  13.26,  9.10,  and 

0.70  pounds  of  coal  are  used  for  double,  triple,  and  quadruple  effects, 

respectively.      For  the  same  weight  of  cane  chips,  giving  L25  pounds  of 


95 

diffusion  juice,  the  quantities  of  coal  consumed  would  be  8.68,  5.89,  aud 
4.44  pouuds,  respectively.  To  reduce  this  to  masse  cuite  would  require 
the  same  consumption  as  before,  viz,  4.44  pouuds.  One  hundred  pounds 
of  cane  chips  will  yield  l>3~  diffusion  an  average  of  10  pounds  of  sugar 
for  the  whole  State  of  Louisiana.  The  coal  consumed  in  evaporation, 
therefore,  would  be : 

Pouuds. 

For  a  double  effect L3. 02 

For  a  triple  effect 10.33 

For  a  qnadrup.e  effect S   -- 

The  above  computation  includes  the  exhaust  steam  from  the  pumps, 
centrifugal  engine,  etc.  The  quantity  of  steam  required  to  run  the  bat- 
tery must  be  added  to  the  above.  It  certainly  would  not  amount  to 
more  than  two  pounds  per  hundred  of  cane  used. 

With  the  best  apparatus  most  economically  arranged  the  total  con- 
sumption of  coal  per  100  pounds  of  cane  would  be: 

Pounds. 

For  a  double  effect 15.  02 

For  a  triple  effect 12.  33 

For  a  quadruple  effect 10.88 

Keduced  to  1,000  pounds  of  sugar  from  cane  yielding  an  average  of 
10  per  cent,  of  all  sugars,  the  figures  become: 

For  1,000  pounds  BQgar —  Pounds. 

Witb  double  effect 1,502 

With  triple  effed 1,233 

With  quadruple  effect 1,088 

In  ail  these  calculations  the  coal  is  assumed  to  be  of  fair  average 
quality,  and  to  be  able  to  convert  G  pounds  of  water  into  Steam  at  usual 
boiler  pressure  for  each  1  pound  of  coal.  In  general,  then,  it  may  be 
said  the  quantity  of  coal  required  to  make  1,000  pounds  of  sugar  by 
diffusion  varies  from  1,000  to  1,500  pounds,  according  to  the  system  of 
evaporation  employed. 

Diffusion  can  only  be  made  an  economical  success  when  the  best  ma- 
chinery and  the  most  economical  methods  are  employed.  Tin'  great 
objection  which  has  been  urged  against  it,  viz,  the  increased  consump- 
tion of  fuel  required,  is  entirely  removed  when  the  process  is  carried 

on  under  the  economical  conditions  which  have  been  mentioned. 

To  attempt  to  introduce  diffusion  with  old  and  worn  out  apparatus, 

defective  boilers  and  open    pans,  would   simply  be  di8a8trOUS.      It  ean 

only  succeed  when  the  highest  mechanical  skill,  associated  with  the 

best  scientific  control,  directs  all  the  operations  of  the  sugai  house. 
In  the  one  experiment  where  actual  weighings  have  been  completed 

of  the  whole   product,  \  ix.  the   fourth    run,  the  quantity   of  su-ar  made 

per  ton  is  : 

tads. 
First 

Seconds 

Thirds .  l-..; 

Total 


96 

I  do  not  think,  therefore,  that  it  is  extravagant  to  believe  that  with 
the  best  culture  and  most  economical  method  of  manufacture  the  yield 
per  ton  of  cane  in  Louisiana  may  be  brought  up  to  200  pounds.  The 
introduction  of  diffusion  means  almost  a  complete  rehabilitation  of  the 
average  sugar  house.  It  would  be  unreasonable  to  expect  that  plant- 
ers will  have  the  money  and  the  desire  to  undertake  such  a  radical 
change,  or  at  least  to  make  it  rapidly. 

But  it  seems  to  me  that  the  gradual  introduction  of  diffusion,  with 
its  concomitant  machinery,  will  work  a  great  change  in  the  sugar  in- 
dustry of  the  South,  bringing  success  and  prosperity  where,  for  years, 
a  hard  struggle  for  existence  has  been  going  on. 

The  final  result,  I  sincerely  hope,  will  bring  into  cultivation  the  ex- 
tensive areas  of  rich  sugar  lands  nosv  lying  idle  and  increase  the  pro- 
duction of  the  State  of  Louisiana  to  500,000  tons  annually. 

T  can  not  close  this  report  without  expressing  my  hearty  appreciation 
of  the  support  I  have  received  from  the  sugar  planters.  The  great 
majority  of  them  were  skeptical  in  respect  of  the  process,  but  all  were 
anxious  that  a  thorough  trial  should  be  made. 

Particularly  I  desire  to  thank  Governor  Warmoth  for  his  constant 
and  enthusiastic  support  and  for  generously  giving  $5,000  and  more  to 
continue  experiments,  when  the  funds  appropriated  for  them  had  been 
exhausted  by  the  expensive  delays  caused  by  the  cyclone  and  imperfec- 
tions in  the  mach  inery.  Without  this  timely  aid  the  whole  work  would 
have  been  stopped  on  the  very  threshold  of  success. 

The  advice  and  encouragement  of  Messrs.  Dymond  and  McCall,  mem- 
bers of  the  advisory  committee,  helped  me  greatly  during  the  most  try- 
ing days  of  the  work,  when  it  seemed  an  almost  hopeless  task  to  wrestle 
further  with  difficulties  of  a  purely  mechanical  nature. 

The  active  co-operation  of  Mr.  J.  13.  Wilkinson,  jr.,  was  a  source  of 
constant  assistance  during  the  whole  progress  of  the  work,  which  is 
but  inadequately  recognized  by  a  simple  sentence  of  thanks. 

Of  my  own  assistants,  Messrs.  liarthelemy  and  Spencer  had  charge  of 
the  erection  of  the  building  and  of  the  apparatus,  except  that  put  up  by 
the  Colwell  Company. 

Mr.  Barthelemy  took  charge  of  the  sugar  making  during  the  various 
trials  and  Mr.  Spencer  had  the  general  supervision  of  the  diffusion 
process  and  particularly  of  the  limekiln  and  carbonatation  apparatus. 
Messrs.  Cram pton  and  Fake  took  charge  of  the  chemical  work.  Mr. 
dohn  Dugan  was  master  of  diffusion.  Mr.  R.  Sieg,  as  consulting  engi- 
neer, rendered  much  assistance.  His  long  experience  and  thorough 
knowledge  of  the  literature  of  diffusion  rendered  his  services  particu- 
larly valuable. 

Finally,  I  will  say  that  no  one  recognizee  more  fully  than  myself  the 

many  imperfections  noticed  during  the  progress  of  the  experiments  in 
the  machinery  and  methods  employed.  I  have  endeavored  not  to  con- 
ceal these,  believing  that  in  pointing  them  out  a  sen  ice  is  rendered  the 
public  onl\    |eSS  valuable  than  th;it  seemed  by  complete  success, 


APPENDIX  A. 

Letter  of  the  Commissioner  in  transmitting  report  of  M,  Sicenson  to  the 

ate. 

United  States  Department  of  Agriculture, 

Division  of  Chemistry, 
Washington,  J).  C.  February  2,  1888. 
Sir  :  In  response  to  a  resolution  of  the  Senate  of  the  30th  ultimo,  I 
have  the  honor  to  transmit  herewith  a  copy  of  the  report  made  to  this 
Department  by  Professor  Swenson  on  the  subject  of  sorghum  sugar. 

For  the  further  information  of  the  Senate  I  beg  to  say  that  experi- 
ments in  the  manufacture  of  sugar  have  been  conducted  by  this  De- 
partment during  the  past  season  at  three  stations,  namely,  Rio  Grande, 
N.  J. ;  Fort  Scott,  Kans. ;  and  Magnolia  Plantation.  La.  The  two  first- 
named  stations  worked  with  the  sorghum  cane  and  the  last-named  sta- 
tion with  sugarcane.  I  was  led  to  change  my  original  intention  to 
publish  the  reports  of  these  stations  separately  by  the  belief  that  the  com- 
bination of  the  three  reports  in  one  volume  would  make  a  more  useful, 
practicable,  and  valuable  document  for  purposes  of  comparison  and 
otherwise — a  document  which  would  be  especially  valuable  in  the  South 
to  sugar-planters,  who  might  thereby  be* led  to  greatly  prolong  their 
sugar-working  season  by  planting  both  the  sorghum  and  the  sugar  caue. 
The  material  portions  of  the  reports  of  the  two  first-named  stations 
were  thereupon  made  public  through  the  press  and  their  official  publi- 
cation delayed,  awaiting  the  termination,  last  week,  of  the  experiments 
at  Magnolia.  The  manuscript  for  this  report  is  now  ready  for  the 
printer,and  it  will  be  published  as  an  official  report  of  this  Department 
within  a  few  da\  -. 

Very  respectfully. 

Norman  J.  Colman, 
Gomm  i  tjri culture. 

Hon.  John  J.  Ingalls, 

President  pro  tempore)  United  States 

15449— No.  1 7 7 


APPENDIX  B. 

BROWN  COAL  AND  WOOD  CHAR  IN  THE  FILTRATION  OF  CANE 

JUICES  AND  SIRUPS. 


Calumet  Sugar-House,  Bayou  Teche,  La., 

Wednesday,  February  29,  1888. 
Dear  Sir:  Pursuant  to  the  conditions  attaching  9  tons  of  German 

lignite  furnished  him  by  the  U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture  tor  ex- 
perimentation in  cane-juice  filtration  at  this  factory,  1  am  instructed 
by  Mr.  Daniel  Thompson,  its  proprietor,  under  whose  exclusive  patron- 
age the  experiments  have  otherwise  been  conducted,  to  make  you  the 
following  report  concerning  the  same  : 

A  miniature  apparatus  comprising  mill,  Steam -defecators,  open  steam- 
evaporators,  subsiders,  and  a  laboratory,  frame  filter-press  from  Wege- 
lin  and  I  liibner,  center-feed,  executed  iu  bronze,  of  one-half  square  foot 
filtering  area,  arranged  for  complete  displacement,  offered  reasonable 
facilities  at  all  times  to  small  work.  Four  Kroog  presses  of  thirty 
frames,  220  square  feet  filtering  surface  each,  so  mounted  with  respect 
to  receiving  vessels,  juice,  and  lixiviating  pumps,  safety-valves,  and  like 
appurtenances  as  to  have  operated  upon  scums  throughout  the  season 
without  suggesting  alteration,  besides  eliciting  the  eulogiuins  of  the 
inventor  of  the  so-called  Brown  coal  process,  served  during  industrial 
trials.  All  pipes  were  of  copper  or  brass,  pumps  of  bronze,  and  the 
plates,  perforated  sheets,  frames  and  other  iron  parts  of  the  apparatus 
in  contact  with  juice  all  thoroughly  painted,  as  insurance  against  dis- 
coloration of  products.  A  well  arranged  chemical  laboratory,  unusually 
well  equipped  tor  investigations  connected  with  sugar,  was  also  pro- 
vided. 

Mr.  Ii.  Eemmers,  an  English  expert  in  mechanical  filtration  and  sugar 
refining,  well  known  to  readers  of  the  Sugar  Oane  Magazine,  assumed 
technical  control  of  the  experiments,  assisted  by  Mr.  n.  A.  Williams, 

chemist  from  the  Louisiana  Sugar  Experiment  Station,  Mr.  J,  1\  Bald- 
win, a  local  adept  in  defecation,  ami  two  long-time  employes  of  the 
factory. 

A  preliminary  study  was  made  of  cake  format  ion.  for  this  pur- 
pose Spanish  whiting,  variously  colored,  as  with  aniline  dyes  and 
alizarine,  kept  mechanically  suspended  iii  water  by  vigorous  agitation, 

was  pumped  into  the  chambers,  the  cakes  being  finished  oil  at  high 
pressures  to   insure  extreme  solidity,   which,  after    removal,   were   cut 

into  sections,  longitudinal  and  transverse,  ii  was  found  that,  with  con- 
st  ant  or  \ei  \  gradually  increased  pressures  maintained  within  t  he  cham- 
bers, and  a  liquid  kept  under  unaltered  conditions,  the  cakes  formed  by 

extremely  uniform  accretions,  beginning  with  a  thin  ami  even  coating 

of  the  entile  tilt « * i lug  area.  o\  er  which  t  he  various  OOlOTfl  USed  deposited 


100 

one  upon  the  other,  as  fed  in  succession  to  the  press,  in  likewise  thin 
and  equable  layers,  until  the  chambers  were  quite  filled  and  filtration 
ceased.  AVith  oscillatory  pressures  and  with  substances  of  widely  differ- 
ing specific  gravities,  such  as  whiting,  brown  coal,  red  lead,  wood  char, 
and  ultramarine,  one  following  upon  the  other,  the  various  laminre 
proved  most  irregular  in  their  deposition  upon  the  filter-bed,  being  com- 
paratively of  excessive  thickness  in  parts  while  running  out  altogether 
in  others,  the  plane  of  contact  being  besides  often  obliterated  or  scarcely 
defined,  because  of  partial  intermingling  between  the  different  sub- 
stances employed.  The  same  effects,  also,  found  their  cause  in  the  use 
of  any  given  substance  fed  alternately  in  fine  and  coarse  division,  or  at 
first  in  high  followed  by  low  percents  of  the  matrix. 

There  can  be  little  doubt  that  for  the  best  results  in  general  filter- 
press  work,  this  indicates,  as  afterwards  substantiated  for  sugar  liquors 
by  the  use  of  hydrostatic  columns  on  the  one  hand  and  inter  in  ittency 
secured  through  means  of  a  by-pass  valve  on  the  other,  the  first  im 
portance  of  constant  pressures,  freed  especially  from  the  vibratory  pul- 
sations of  ordinary  pumps,  and  a  liquid  so  agitated  while  awaiting  the 
process  as  to  carry  to  the  press,  at  all  stages  of  this,  a  reasonably  uni- 
form percentage  of  whatever  matrix  isemployed,  the  laws  of  hydraulics, 
as  illustrated  in  silt-bearing  streams,  here  again  exhibiting  themselves  in 
complete  application. 

Satisfied  that  the  mechanical  arrangement  of  the  large  apparatus  was 
appropriate  to  the  intervention  of  a  matrix  and  that  the  small  answered 
to  all  the  essential  conditions  of  the  large,  systematic  work  with  brown 
coal,  under  what  is  known  as  the  Kleemann  process,  began  on  Novem- 
ber 29.  Five  long  tons  of  this  article  had  been  imported  by  Mr.  Dan'l 
Thompson,  through  the  Sangerhausen  Maschinenfabrick,  Germany, 
which,  however,  was  so  superlatively  unfit  for  its  destined  duty,  by 
reason  of  uneven  and  inadequate  pulverization,  as  to  have  required  pre- 
vious and,  of  course,  laborious  hand-sifting. 

It  was  first  sought  to  learn  what  relation  varying  quantities  of  this 
article  bore  to  speed  in  the  filtration  of  defecated  but  unskimmed  juices. 
With  this  intent  different  percentages,  based  upon  the  estimated  weight 
of  the  contained  sucrose,  as  the  mostconvenient,  although  not,  assuredly, 
the  most  rational  standard  of  reference,  were  employed  with  the  results 
which  follow: 


Lignite, 

percent. 
on  con- 

tamed  su- 
crose. 

Juice  filtered  per  oper- 
ation;   BO-frame 
Croog  press.     I  \\< 
proximate  gallons). 

Average  lime  of  one 
operation.    (Approx- 
imate hours.) 

A  v. 

joioe  per 
per  84 
horns.    (Ap- 
proximate 

gallons.) 

Average 

jniro     DOT 

Bquare 
altering 

air. l     ; 

hours.    (Ap- 
proximate 

gallons.) 

Maxima. 

Minima. 

Filtering, 

Lixiviating 

and 
emptying. 

7.5 
15 

22.5 
ISO 
45 
GO 

2,800 
2,000 
1.  500 
1,200 
050 
700 

2,900 
2,  100 
1,000 
1,800 
1,050 
800 

8 
6 

4.5 

:j 

15 
0.75 

3 
3 

2.5 
2 

1.5 

1 

6,  880 

5,466 

8,  CM  0 

8,000 

io,  •_■::. 

'28.  3 
•24.0 
'24.  1 
•27.  2 

Tin*  average  juice  per  press  and  per  Bquare  foot  of  filtering  surface, 
per  twenty-four  hours,  stand  calculated  on  the,  basis  of  a  60-day  con- 
tinuous ill ii.  line,  taking  the  average  weigh!  of  the  juice  at  8.85 
pounds  per  gallon,  and  its  sucrose  at  i:;.\  per  cent— for  percents  of  lig- 


101 

nite  upon  sucrose  contained  inay  be  substituted  percents  of  the  same 
on  the  weight  of  juice  or  pounds  of  the  former  per  100  gallons  of  the 
latter,  as  exhibited  in  the  annexed  scheme  : 


Lignite,   per  cent,   on   weight  of 

sucrose  in  juice 7.5  15 

Lignite  per   cent,    on  weight   of 

juice 1  2 

Lignite  in  pounds  per  100  gallons 

of  juice 8.85       17.70 


30. 

45 

.60 

3 

4 

6 

8 

53.10 

70.80 

The  juices  treated  during  the  interval  of  this  work  remained,  so  far 
as  could  be  ascertained,  essentially  uniform  as  respected  adaptability 
to  nitration,  as,  indeed,  they  have  done  up  to  present  writing;  being 
referred  in  this  regard,  occasionally,  to  an  arbitrarily  selected  stand- 
ard by  careful  weighings  of  defecated  juice,  brown  coal,  and  prod- 
ucts operated  upon  in  observed  times  on  tared  paper  niters.  The 
analyses  of  raw  juices  for  those  dates  which  cover  this  series  of  deter- 
minations, as  made  in  the  course  of  diurnal  routine  work,  are  presented 
below. 

While  they  may  serve  for  general  comparison  with  the  like  as  ob- 
served in  other  portions  of  our  tropical  cane  belt,  no  relation  has  yet 
been  noted  to  exist  between  the  amounts  of  sucrose,  reducing  sugars  or 
other  known  constituents  of  the  juice,  and  the  difficulties  exhibited  by 
this  in  filtration.  In  the  latter  regard  it  is  not  possible  to  say  if  that 
which  has  here  been  experimented  upon  fairly  represents  Louisiana's 
average.  It  would  seem,  indeed,  to  be  otherwise,  since,  in  the  treat- 
ment of  scums,  great  difficulty  is  reported  to  have  been  experienced  in 
almost,  if  not  every,  other  local  factory  possessing  filter-presses,  while 
at  this  no  other  process  of  manufacture  was  throughout  so  satisfac- 
torily performed. 


D»te. 

!i  a.   in. 

3  p.  in. 

y  p.  in. 

B 

/             m 
I 

-             g 

1 

- 
c 

e 
z 

p. 

K 

■ 

'o 
DO 

4 

1 

2 

- 

3 
C0 

5 

a 
. 

c 
o 
- 
M 
- 

~z 
£ 

7 

a 

i 

I 

- 

1887. 

|  Dec.     1 
8 

7 

0 

10 

12 
11 

15 

if, 
17 
lit 

15.80 
L5.27 
14.09 
14.18 
L4.06 
14.43 

I  it,; 
13  !"; 

II  17 
15.03 

12.il 
12.1 
12.3 
10.  t 

10.  1 

10  - 

11.  7 

11  :; 

11.  7 

12.  l 
11   0 

1.43 
1.81 
1.27 
1.52 
1.62 

l  45 

l   06 

73.81 

1 1.  78 
14.07 
14.09 
14.03 

14.77 
14.09 

1 1  93 
l  1.80 

11.8 

ll.o 

n.  a 

10.7 

11.0 

lt».7 
11 .:. 
1!.:: 
11.:. 
12  l 
12.  1 

1  25 
1.09 

1.47 
1.50 

L.50 
1.51 
1.88 

1.  17 

76.  16 
71    12 
79.60 

14.43 

14.91 
14.23 

12.0 

11.7 
9.7 
11.5 

11  2 

1.  14 

77.  12 

L 
91.2] 

l  84 
1  .61 

l.ta 

14.00 

11.  1 
11. ti 
ll.;; 

A  \  •  i  .i  . 

riant  caue,  27.5  tona  [oirca)  per  acre,  Mown  prostrate  September  i*». 


102 

From  these  trials  the  resulting  extremes,  in  round  numbers,  have 
alone  been  given.  Variations  in  temperatures  and  in  pressures,  both 
with  juice  and  displacement  water;  in  density  and  completeness  of 
defecation  with  the  former ;  in  perfection  of  cake  and  lixiviation 
sought,  as  in  other  similar  variables,  some  premeditated,  others  at 
times  uncontrollable,  render,  as  will  be  understood  by  a  trained  experi- 
mentalist like  yourself,  absolutely  definite  and  thoroughly  ironclad 
figures  quite  out  of  the  questiou.  The  average  amounts  of  juice  put 
through  given  filtering  areas  in  fixed  times  have,  however,  in  fact,  most 
nearly  corresponded  with  those  presented  as  minima. 

In  general,  it  may  be  safely  said,  the  most  satisfactory  filtrations 
were  uniformly  of  juices  slightly  acid  only,  180°  F.  {circa),  underpres- 
sures which,  initially  low,  were  most  gradually  increased  until,  at  finish - 
ing-off,  6*0  pounds  per  square  inch  had  been  attained.  Neither  reason- 
able increase  of  pressure  nor  higher  temperatures  than  these  availed 
perceptibly.  Boiling  after  the  addition  of  the  lignite  produced  no 
good  result  later  in  filtration,  when  intimate  admixture  of  matrix  and 
liquid  had  been  maintained.  Of  displacement,  or  the  depletion  in 
sugar  of  the  cake,  more  will  be  said  hereafter. 

Utterly  at  variance  as  the  coal  percentages  and  time  volumes  indi- 
cated are  with  promises  which  had  preceded  the  process  to  this  country, 
they  proved  as  persistent  as  they  are  disappointing.  From  30  to  45 
per  cent,  on  the  estimated  crystallizable  product  present  were  shown 
over  and  over  again  to  be  the  smallest  of  coal  consistent  with  reason- 
able amounts  of  work  done  in  given  times,  with  given  filtering  areas, 
whether  by  the  experimental  or  the  working  apparatus.  Upon  this 
last  from  one  to  three  consecutive  defecators,  of  exceeding  1,300  gal- 
lons each,  were  repeatedly  essayed.  Separate  treatment  of  skimmed 
liquors  and  their  scums  did  no  better  in  the  aggregate.  Those  sub- 
stances which  peculiarly  interfere  with  filtration  appear  to  be  removed 
only  in  minimum  degree  with  the  skimmings  and  sediments.  Were 
this  otherwise,  separation  and  recovery  of  juice  from  the  latter  by 
filter-pressing,  as  now  practiced,  would  scarcely  be  feasible.  It  was 
the  same  whether  with  a  lime,  a  sulphurous  acid  and  lime,  a  lime  and 
phosphoric  acid,  an  acid  sulphite  of  alumina,  or  an  acid  albumen 
defecation,  under  the  Willcox  patent;  and  with  these  reagents  in  all 
proportions.  Tannic  acid  extracted  coloring  matter  from  the  brown 
coal,  as  did  phosphoric  and  some  other  chemicals,  without  facilitat- 
ing filtration.  The  use  of  lignite  in  alkaline  solution  is  forbidden  by 
its  solubility  in  such.  Basic  lead  acetate  showed  no  better  effects  with 
the  small  press  than  the  rest.  Carbonatation  alone  succeeds,  and  this, 
as  you  told  me,  requires  no  lignite.  Repetition,  later  repeated,  with 
foreign  lignite  prepared  under  .Mr.  Ivleemann's  individual  Supervision 
and  furnished  by  your  department,  as  also  with  native  coals  obtained 
from  the  Louisiana  Sugar  Experiment  Station  and  other  sources,  com- 
minuted at  home,  aggravated  the  disappointment.  All  degrees  of  pul- 
verization were  tried.  The  amounts  filtered  seemed  tolerably  constant 
for  Stubble  and  plant -cane  juices  and  for  juices  from  freshly  cut  canes, 
and  from  those  many  weeks  windrowed.  From  old  land  cane  they  did 
doubtfully  better  than  from  new;  those  deteriorated  as  a  frost  effect  not 
altogether  so  well,  perhaps,  as  those  not  so  injured.  With  cane  freed 
from  its  adhering  ccrosin,  by  sand-papering   prior  to  crushing,  it  went 

do  better.     Butts  showed  no  decided  superiority  to  middles  and  tops. 

In  all  eases  the  lilt ered  juices,  whether  from  skimmed  liquors  or  scums 
or  the  two  treated   without    previous  separation,  whether  from  high  or 

low  percentages  of  brown  coal  and  with  whatever  defecating  agent  em- 


103 

ployed,  were  exceedingly  bright  and  clear  from  the  first  until  running 
had  quite  ceased  altogether.  Another  disappointment,  however,  awaited 
inquiry  into  the  actual  improvement  as  to  parity  secured.  The  expo- 
nent, on  the  average,  was  raised  not  materially  to  exceed  one  per  cent, 
of  total  solids  attributable  to  the  coal,  exclusive  even  of  sweet-waters. 
A  few  analyses,  taken  at  random  from  the  laboratory  records,  sufficiently 
illustrate  this.  In  every  case  the  non-filtered  and  filtered  samples  rep- 
resent, as  nearly  as  practicable,  the  same  juice,  b'or  the  large  presses 
these  were  taken  in  equal  volumes  at  the  discharge  openings  of  defe- 
cators and  presses,  respectively,  at  intervals  of  three  minutes,  always  so 
as  to  represent  by  pairs  identical  defecators  of  juice  and  identical  defe- 
cations, before  and  after  filtration,  which,  lollowing  adequate  admixture 
of  each  series,  as  obtained  from  individual  defecators,  were  re-sampled. 
This  was  permitted  by  the  admirable  arrangement  of  the  coal-mixing 
receivers,which  contained,  each, precisely  the  amount  from  one  defecator, 
and  which  were  filled  and  emptied  alternately  in  rotation.  The  effect 
of  a  thorough  cake  washing,  the  sweet-water  being  mixed  back  propor- 
tionately with  the  filtered  juice,  of  which  it  was  the  after-product,  is 
shown  in  the  last  two  analyses. 


Defecated,  not  filtered. 

Filtered,  30  to  45  per  cent, 
brown  coal. 

o 

A 
H 

0 

3 
«  *2 

6 

d 

Date. 

~ 

*i 

3  a 

2  2 
a  3 

Remarks. 

m 

- 

9. 

e 
- 
a 

<B 
00 

O 

a 

- 
a 
z 
— 

~ 
■j. 

z 

0 

3 

■ 

6 
to 

© 

z 

- 

- 
- 

s 

I 

05 

o 

- 

3 

0 
► 

a 

Pa 

£ 

H 

"3 

0 

H 

g 

72 

/. 

'J 

W 

- 

■/. 

f. 

- 

W 

3 

H 

1887. 

Dec.  28 

16.44 

13.0 

1.84 

79.08 

14.15 

16.43 

13.3 

1.801  80.95 

14. 15 

1.87 

Frosted  cane. 

28 

L6  n 

13.0 

1.84 

79.08 

14.15 

16.  03 

12.9 

1.78   80.47 

13.79 

1.39 

Cake  from  the  above  nsed. 

29 

16.  11 

13.6 

1.40 

82.  72 

in  7o 

10.44 

13.8 

1.38   83.94 

10.00 

1.22 

30 

13.9 

1.25 

10.  48 

13.6 

1.19    82.52 

8.75 

1.00 

Willcox  albnraen  defecation. 

31 

15.  00 

11.71.44 

78.00 

12.  ;;n 

14.70 

11.6 

1.40   78.91 

12.  07 

0.91 

1888. 

Jan.    2 

15.00 

12. 6 1.20 

84.00 

9.  52 

15.30 

13.0  1.30 

10.00 

0.97 

3 

IT).  17 

12.3  1.07 

81.08 

8.69 

1").  20 

12.6.1.10    82.89 

8.00 

1.81 

4 

15.  11  12.  31.  lit 

81.  40 

!l.  07 

14.5012.0  1.13    82.41 

9.41 

1.01 

10 

10.40  13.5  1.0d 

82.01 

7.41 

13.3 

1.01    83.33 

7.52 

1.32 

Larjre  presses,  Willcoxdefe- 

<  itiou. 

17 

10.  H  13.5  1.10 

82. 11 

8.17 

I"..  12  12.0 

1.02   83.33 

8.09 

1.22 

Largo  presses,  lime  defoca*  , 

ti.in.                                            j 

17 

16.63  13.6  0.90 

81.77 

7.06 

fl.43 

0.55 

- 

17 

10.47  I 

81.90 

7.4(i 

0.89    82.21 

6.95 

0.25 

pro  rate  of 
ti  H.o  Lnoluded. 

17 

13.61.06 

7.79 

0.94 

7.28 

l .  K 

17 

10.30  13.  0  0.  91 

7.00 

15.34  12.2 

0.83 

6.80 

0.07 

t  UvO  Included. 

17 

Means. 

15.90  13.4 

0.98 

1.  22 

81.46 

12. 5 

0.90 

0  30 

io.  08 

18.  l 

9.31 

15.52 

12.  8 

1.  10 

82.  47 

9.06 

1.01 

After  that,  due  to  the  use  of  L0  or  i~>  per  cent  of  Lignite  on  the  weight 
of  sugar  present,  no  commensurate  effect  was  observed  to  i>"  produced 
In  the  direction  of  increased  purity  by  the  addition  of  further  quanti- 
ties. This  fell  off  verj  Blightlj  or  not  at  all,  however,  as  nitration  pro- 
ceeded towards  its  finishing  point,  as  also  more  or  less  in  lixiviation, 
depending,  as  seemed  shown,  upon  a  lower  or  higher  percentage  ol  coal 
employed.  Believing  the  application  of  the  process  to  Louisiana  juice, 
condemned  by  th<  ive  quantities  of  lignite  ton  ml  essentia]  to  suf- 

ficiently rapid  filtration  and  by  its  failure  to  realise  a  higher  gain  in 
purity,  before   reaching   conclusive    knowledge  of   these   minutia 


104 


should  be  said  these  have  not  since  been  accorded  that  systematic  in- 
quiry which,  otherwise,  they  would  have  deserved. 

As  decolorizers  of  saccharine  liquors,  either  dilute  or  concentrated, 
certain  brown  coals  are,  on  the  other  baud,  surprisingly  effective.  In 
the  table  annexed  are  given  to  the  nearest  per  cent,  the  color  repeatedly 
removed  from  defecated  juices,  by  varying  percentages  of  the  article 
furnished  by  your  Department,  referred  in  each  series  to  standard  sam- 
ples prepared  from  the  defecated  juice  dealt  with  by  mere  passage 
through  filter  paper.  This  paper  filtration  is  a  necessity,  since  suspended 
matter,  lighter  in  color  than  the  mother- liquor,  partially  by  preventing 
the  transmission  of  light  through  this  last  and  partly  by  itself  reflecting 
light,  gives  invariably,  in  simply  subsided  juices,  a  tint  too  light  by  a 
number  of  degrees.  The  percentages  of  color  removed  were  uniformly 
measured  by  the  relative  length  of  columns  made  to  give  the  same  tint 
as  the  untreated  standard  when  contained  in  tubes  of  like  glass,  of 
caliber  such  as  to  avoid  a  decided  meniscus,  and  with  light  of  equal  in- 
tensities transmitted  from  below  in  lines  parallel  to  the  columns7  longi- 
tudinal axes. 


Lignite,  per 

cent,  on 
'  weight  of 

Length  of 

Per  cent. 

columns 
mm. 

color 
removed. 

sucrose. 

Unfit  ere  d 
5 

28 

64 

10 

36 

72 

15 

50 

80 

20 

64 

84 

25 

80 

88 

30 

92 

89 

40 

100 

90 

50 

112 

91 

In  the  foregoing  tbe  juices  were  treated  nearly  to  neutrality  with 
lime  alone.  With  sulphurous  and  phosphoric  acids,  acid  albumen,  acid 
sulphite  of  alumina,  or  even  a  decidedly  acid  lime  defecation,  the  per- 
cents.  removed  were,  of  course,  reduced,  there  being  a  less  intense  pri- 
mary tint.  No  other  lignite  gave  such  high  effects  as  that  furnished 
by  your  Department.  This  will  be  seen  from  the  accompanying  approx- 
imations, obtained  with  from  22.5  per  cent,  to  25.0  per  ceut.  of  lignite 
on  the  weight  of  sucrose  filtered,  expressed  in  maxima  and  minima  to 
the  nearest  10,  sulphur  fumes  having  been  used  on  the  juices — the  sir- 
ups not  having  been  treated  with  coal  prior  to  concentration. 


Lignite,  where  obtained. 


Sangei  hansen    Machine   Woi  I 

lilHUV 

Unit i -ii  ii  tmenl  of  A.jp Icnll 
lire,  in.  pan  <i  !••  i ■'.  Kle<  mann,  <  ler 
man]  

Louisiana  Bn  at  a\  Station 
mined  In  Alabama  

.1   B   I'm  dheim,  Camden,  A  i  k 

Mm.ola,  Tex 


Pei  cent,  color  reaoved. 

Jnioe. 

Sirup. 

Maxima. 

Minima. 

Maxima. 

Minima. 

60 

40 

is 

35 

HO 

50 

40 

70 
60 

40 
40 

M 

40 

88 

BO 
BO 

105 

The  higher  effect  of  your  article  it  perhaps  attributable,  iu  consider- 
able  measure,  to  a  more  perfect  pulverization  than  that  secured  in  other 
samples,  the  degree  of  this  exercising  an  undoubted  influence.  As  was 
noticed  in  the  matter  of  purity  coefficient,  after  the  use  of  some  15  per 
cent  further  amounts  added  were  out  of  all  proportion  to  the  increase 
in  effect.  The  power  of  lignite  to  absorb  or  otherwise  destroy  or  re- 
move is  apparently  confined  to  those  contained  substances  producing 
particular  color  effects  only.  For  these  its  affinity  is  certainly  very 
great,  animal  char  or  bone  black,  iu  the  lower  percentages,  being  found 
altogether  out  of  comparison  with  it  in  this  regard.  These  colors  sup- 
pressed, however,  by  a  relatively  small  quantity  of  the  lignite,  addi- 
tional quantities  produce  but  little  useful  effect,  the  remaining  coloring 
matters  being  those  for  which  it  possesses  little  or  no  affinity.  This 
hypothesis  explains  the  fact  that,  having  used  go  much  as 30  to  45  pel 
cent,  to  secure  rapidity  of  filtration,  the  cake  from  one  operation  was 
found  to  have  lost  none  of  its  decolorizing  power  upon  a  second  appli- 
cation, though  it  no  longer  filtered  with  the  same  efficiency.  Its  influ- 
ence upon  the  exponent,  also,  seemed  to  have  diminished  little  by  like 
previous  use  upon  juice,  although  considerably  more  so  after  the  filtra- 
tion of  dense  sirups  not  first  treated  as  juice,  a  tact  possibly  finding  its 
explanation  on  the  same  lines.  Except  for  the  Texas  sample,  all  the 
coals  examined  gave  up  a  slight  amount  of  greenish  coloring  matter. 
whether  boiled  in  distilled  water,  juice,  or  sirup,  all  showing  likewise 
an  acid  reaction,  your  own  being  most  prououueed  in  the  latter  par- 
ticular. 

A  hard  and  apparently  very  dry  cake  was  obtained  with  whatever 
variety  of  lignite,  if  employed  in  amounts  above  15  per  cent,  of  the 
contained  sugar,  provided  only  ample  time  was  accorded  its  formation. 
It  was,  however,  in  all  instances  of  high  per  cents,  exceedingly  porous 
as  compared  with  scum  cake  finished  oft' at  corresponding  pressures, 
weighing  per  press  always  in  close  proximity  to  the  ascertained  average 
of  070  pounds  at  a  final  pressure  of  GO  pounds,  of  which,  after  Lixivia- 
tion  at  40  pounds  pressure,  49  per  cent.,  a  little  more  or  less,  was  moist 
ure. 

Since  with  a  juice  polarizing  13  per  cent,  sucrose  some  40  pounds  ot 
the  latter  would  i»e  otherwise  Lost  from  each  pressing,  equal  to  nearly 
3  per  cent,  of  the  entire  amount  treated,  supposing  1,300  gallons  ot' 

juice  to  be  put  through,  with  30  per  cent,  of  the  brown  coal,  at  each  op- 
eration, the  importance  of  lixiviation  can  scarcely  be  overstated.  N«i 
press  except  arranged  for  this  supplementary  process  in  its  most  com- 
plete attainment  would,  of  course.  DC  admissible.  This  work  is  too 
nnuniformlv  accomplished  by  steam,  by  reason  of  channels  at  once  cut 
on  lines  of  least  resistance,  which,  besides,  leaves  the  press  too  hot  tor 
immediate  manipulation   and  severely  taxes  the   cloths.      Hot  water  re 

suits  in  too  rapid  ami  too  great  a  reduction  of  the  parity  coefficient, 

possibly  because  of  the  action  ot    heat  niton  the  solubility  of  some 

among  the  retained  impurities.  Cold  water  certainly  performed  best, 
all  things  considered. 

'the  theoretical  amount  of  so-called  displacement  water  was  found 
altogether  inadequate.     PoraSO-frame  Kroog  press  200  liters  are. 

reasons  not    iiccessan    to  state,  supposed  to  he  the  extreme  limit  01  re- 
quirement,   This  amount  when  passed  in  one  hour — already  a  serious 
of  time  compared  with  the  tilt  rat  ion  itself,  which  consumes  but  three  with 
;;o  per  cent,  of  coal — gave  at  fmisiiing-oiv  a  sweet-water  still  running 
at  an  average  analysis  of:  solids,  0.77;  Bucrose,  5.0;  reducing  ml 
0.52 ;  exponent,  73.87.    Assuming  the  19  per  cent,  of  retained  moisture 


106 

on  the  670  pounds  of  cake  to  be  juice  dilated  to  the  same  figures,  vre 
should  have : 

Pounds. 

A-  water 328.  :'0 

As  contained  solids 

As  dilute  juice 352.  13 

equal  to  25.5  per  cent,  of  the  cakes'  weight,  which  would  mean  the  loss 
per  operation  of  670x0.525x0.05=17.58  pounds  sucrose,  or  352x0.05 

=  17.00  pouuds  sucrose,  or  to  17.60x40.1=811.30  pounds  sucrose  per 
day's  work  of  60,000  gallons  of  juice,  using  30  per  cent,  of  lignite. 

A.8  a  matter  of  fact,  analysis  or  the  cake  showed  this  to  contain  2.8 
per  cent,  sucrose,  or  1S.76  pouuds,  of  the  latter  per  pressing — a  seeming 
paradox,  dispelled  by  physical  examination.  This  sufficed  to  reveal  how 
the  water,  first  finding  its  way  past  the  cake  on  its  line  of  contact  with 
the  iron  frame,  thoroughly  lixiviated  the  extreme  peripheral  portions  of 
this,  afterwards  to  pass  here  in  important  volumes  without  effecting 
any  good  purpose,  while  yet  having  accomplished  only  a  very  partial 
depletion  of  more  central  parts.  Here  was  met  the  third  and  last 
serious  technical  objection  to  lignite;  one  which,  since  it  is  multiplied 
by'the  number  of  pressings  required  for  given  volumes  of  juice  filtered, 
must  apply  to  the  use  ot  any  matrix  just  in  proportion  as  larger  or 
smaller  amounts  of  this  are  essential  to  the  results  sought. 

There  appeared  to  offer  two  methods  of  escape  from  this  difficulty, 
each,  however,  involving  a  dilemma.  Lower  lixiviating  pressures,  while 
producing  much  better  effects,  prolonged  the  time  required  for  the 
operation  so  far  beyond  the  reasonable  as  would  need  double  or  treble 
the  filter-press  plant.  Increased  quantities  of  water  employed  reduced 
the  exponent,  prolonged  the  time,  and  increased  the  evaporation  corre- 
spondingly. A  third  expedient  was  less  effective,  but  offered  some  col- 
lateral advantages,  to  wit,  more  perfect  pulverization  of  the  matrix. 
There  can  be  no  reasonable  doubt  that  the  liner  the  state  of  division  to 
which  brown  coal  is  reduced  the  more  rapid  becomes  filtration,  the  more 
complete  the  decolorization  effected,  the  more  solid  its  cuke,  and  the 
lower  its  final  percent,  of  retained  juice,  sifted  through  the  finest  of 
millers'  silk  bolting-cloth,  it  performs  better  duty  in  every  respect  than 
otherwise.  It  is  advisedly  stated,  and  with  positiveness,  after  repeated 
experiment,  that  lignite  can  not  be  too  finely  prepared,  on  a  large  scale 
at  least,  for  cane-juice  filtration,  by  any  mechanical  means  at  present 
command.  Dissolved  even  in  strong  alkalis  and  reprecipitateu  as  an 
impalpable  powder,  its  efficiency  is  yet  further  enhanced. 

As  a  last  recour.se  higher  juice  pressures,  even  up  to  300  pounds  per 
Square  inch  on  the  small  press,  were  used.  This,  though  it  unquestion- 
ably left  remaining  ;i  cake  charged  likewise  with  less  juice  ami  so  uni- 
formly compact  as  l<»  !>•'  better  adapted  to  displacement,  again  was 
attended  with  too  serious  a  loss  of  time,  both  in  finishing  off  and  in 
subsequent  lixiviation,  to  com  pen  sate  the  advantage  in  sugar  redeemed 
<>r  evaporation  avoided.     Pressures  in  excess  ot"  loo  pounds  per  square 

inch  are,  besides,  not   feasible  in  industrial  practice. 

A  single  industrial  run  of  twenty-four  hours  was  finally  made  .lanu- 
uary  16th  and  17lh  with  brown  coal,  with  intent  primarily  to  develop  and 
locate  any  unforeseen  mechanical  difficulties  incident  to  continuous  work. 

Numerous  such  arose,  of  course,  each    happily,  however,  suggesting  at 

once  its  own  certain  remedy.  If,  technically,  this  large  effort  was  not 
as  satisfactory  as  might  have  been  anticipated  from  the  painstaking  ar- 
rangements  made  for  and  well-organized   ami   precise  management  ac- 


107 

corded  it.  it  was  yet  successful  beyond  all  expectation  in  solving  those 
problems  which  must  ever  attach  in  cane  juice  work  to  the  application 
in  filter-presses  on  a  considerable  manufacturing  basis,  of  any  matrix 
whatever.  It  removed  at  a  stroke  all  necessity  for  the  yet  more  ex- 
tensive operations  which,  as  you  know,  had  previously  been  proposed. 

It  is  needless  here  to  weary  you  with  the  details  of  this  day's  run,  which, 
with  its  antecedents  rather  than  with  its  consequents,  demonstrated 
conclusively,  as  is  believed,  that  while  the  filtration  of  the  entire  body 
of  defecated  juice  thus,  with  brown  coal,  stands  well  among  the  mechan- 
ical possibilities,  its  application  can  by  no  means  now  conceived  with 
us  be  rendered  remunerative  to  the  Louisiana  industry.  This  your  dis- 
cernment will  already  have  made  quite  as  clear  to  you  by  what  precedes, 
as  it  can  by  any  present  comparison  between  the  weights  and  polariza- 
tions of  its  resulting  products  and  those  customary  to  the  establishment 
in  its  treatment  of  like  raw  materials.  Such  data,  indeed,  await  your 
command,  but  indicate  to  me  no  variation  in  rendement  beyond  that  at- 
tributable to  the  accidents  and  incidents  common  with  every-day  factory 
experience.  There  occurred  nothing  of  the  oft  and  persistently  pre- 
dicted clogging,  either  of  pumps,  conduits,  presses,  or  cloths.  The  cloths 
at  the  end  of  twenty-four  hours  showed  no  loss  of  transmitting  power, 
and  were  washed  with  surprising  ease. 

In  quality  of  products,  no  doubt,  some  advantage  was  recognized  to 
accrue,  bone-coal  not  being  employed  in  the  factory.  Notwithstanding, 
in  this  particular  also,  disappointment  was  felt.  In  no  other  respect 
than  this,  surely,  did  the  results  of  this  experiment  compare  even  favor 
ably  with  those  secured  by  Mr.  G.  L.  Spencer,  in  18SG,  with  the  Retu- 
rners and  Williamson  wood-char  process,  under  the  patronage  of  your 
Department  ;it  its  Magnolia  Station,  as  these  stand  officially  reported  in 
your  Bulletin  No.  15  (pp.  20-25,  inclusive).  So  much  more  effective  lias 
vegetable  char  than  brown  coal  been  shown  also  in  our  own  work,  both 
as  ;i  filtering  ami  as  a  defecating  agent,  that,  having  abandoned  the  lat- 
ter altogether,  experimentation  since  several  weeks  with  the  former,  in 
a  laboratory  way.  with  seed-cane,  has  now  been  in  seemingly  successful 
progress  here.  The  following  is  not  an  unfair  comparison, 80  far  ac 
perience  yet  teaches,  bet  ween  the  two  articles  applied  to  juices  somewhat 
deteriorated  by  long  storage  of  canes: 


Matrix  required 
■  hi    reighl  <>l'  sa- 

Inmro\  eiin'iit  of       . . 

purity  coeffi-         I>""l<>n/"t.on 
olent.                •ulphured. 

0  to  12 

■ 
to  L90 

i  :.u  to                 a  to  ia 

w :  <  ii.ii          

Lignite  pre  ents  other  disadvantages,  as  well,  in  comparison  with 
wood  charcoal.     Upon  concentration  to  sirup,  jaice  filtered  with  what- 
ever percentage  of  it.  whether  reduced  with  the  low  temperature 
vacuum  evaporation  or  under  atmospheric  pressure,  gives  invariably 

an  additional  precipitate  of  matter  probably  rendered    insoluble  BOlelj 

by  the  increase  of  density.  No  such  precipitate  has  at  any  time,  with  anj 
defecating  agent,  i>«'<-n  observed  alter  nitration  with  wood  coal.  How 
weak  i^  ite  absorptive  power,  beyond  that  for  coloring  matters,  is  shown 

by  the  faet  that,  after  nitration  through  paper  alone,  an  improvement 
of  but  0.03  in  the  exponent  was  secured  to  simps  from  the  ordinary  lime 


108 


defecation  by  subsequent  treatment  with  30  per  ceut.  of  the  liguite. 
Below  are  the  averages: 

[Concentrated  in  double  effect. J 


Sirup. 

Solids.      Sucrose. 

Glucose.       EJP°- 
nent. 

Glnooee 

ratio. 

After  primary  nltrat  i  o  n 
through  paper 

After  subsequent  treatment 
with  30  per  ceut.  lignite  . . 

Rise    in    purity   coefficient 

57.60 
62.70 

47.  2 
51.4 

•      4.5,-)             81.94 
4.76 

n  nn 

:>.  M 

Although  when  freshly  grouud,  and  yet  containing  from  30  to  35  per 
cent,  of  hyroscopic  moisture,  it  can  be  readily  brought  to  mix  intimately 
by  mechanical  means  with  the  juices,  this  is  scarcely  to  be  accomplished 
in  the  large  and  regular  quantities  required  if,  having  been  long  pre- 
pared, desiccation  to  15  or  20  per  cent,  has  not  somehow  been  prevented ; 
in  which  state,  if  sufficiently  comminuted,  it  excels  not  only  the  kneading 
requirements  of  patent  flour  fourfold  but  becomes  even  dangerous  from 
liability  to  spontaneous  combustion.  This  infers  the  necessity  for  a 
grinder  on  the  premises,  with  engine,  foundations,  sifters,  elevators,  mix- 
ers, shafting,  belting,  and  their  like  ad  libitum,  in  a  structure  apart  from 
the  factory  building  proper,  which  last  would  needs  be  protected  from  the 
attendant  dust,  as  another  serious  sugar  making  complication  and  care. 
Such  a  plant  has  been  estimated,  by  a  probably  competent  European 
engineer,  to  cost,  for  a  60,000-pound  diurnal  output,  erected  upon  this 
property,  exclusive  of  the  presses  and  their  immediate  appurtenances, 
but  inclusive  of  building,  not  less  than  $10,000.  Wood  coal  can,  on  the 
other  hand,  safely  be  prepared  during  the  leisure  of  idle  months,  at 
home  or  elsewhere,  and  be  mixed  in  the  greatly  reduced  amounts  called 
for,  as  wanted,  with  the  most  simple  and  inexpensive  devices  or  be 
stored  without  injury  or  danger  from  season  to  season.  Even  wood 
char,  however,  for  satisfactory  filtration,  should  also  contain  a  con- 
siderable percentage  of  moisture  when  ground.  Otherwise  the  first 
run  of  liquor  is  likely  to  come  charged  with  the  char,  requiring  reflltra- 
tiou.  It  appears  that  this,  unlike  lignite,  may  be  rendered  in  part  too 
pulverulent,  which  last  the  enforced  presence  of  sufficient  moisture  at 
the  time  of  its  reduction  is  believed  to  prevent 

Brown  coal,  again,  is  not  known  to  exert  even  a  favorable  mechan- 
ical action  on  the  soil's  productiveness  j  that  wood  char  exercises  valu- 
able functions  in  this  regard  is  well  understood  among  agronomists. 
If  in  the  ordinary  liltei  pressing  of  scums  and  sediments  well-nigh  the 
entire  fertilizing  content  of  the  juice  itselfia  already  secured,  leaving  no 
credit  tor  such  properly  to  be  conceded  to  either,  fortius  mechanical  ad- 
vantage of  charcoal  something  may  well  be  deducted  from  its  estimated 
first  cost  to  manufacture.  It  presumably  absorbs  from  the  juice,  also, 
fertilizing  material  in  excess  of  the  brown  coal,  equivalent  to  the  addi- 
tional rise  it  secures  in  the  exponent  of  this.  The  aggregate  bulk  of 
brown  coal  required  would  be  such  as  might  well  preclude  economic 
dist  libut  ion  over  t  he  fields. 

Considering  the  quality  of  the  uative  brown  coals  as  yet  examined, 
the  cost  of  transportation, and, if  imported,  the  duty  upon  such  enor- 
mous quant  itiea  of  these  ;t-  are  demanded,  the  price  of  vegetable  char, 
it  appears,  should  compare  most  favorably  with  them  throughout   the 


109 

Louisana  sugar  belt.  Brown  coal,  in  sugar  work,  demands  also  a  royalty 
under  letters  patent ;  the  patents  upon  wood  char,  in  this  application, 
have  been  permitted  to  lapse.  Brown  coal  can  not  be  revivified.  Wood 
char,  it  is  believed,  can  be  reburned  by  superheated  steam  in  any  state 
of  comminution,  if  found  desirable.  It  remains  to  be  known  from  the  dis- 
tillation of  which  variety  of  wood,  however,  the  best  quality  of  the  last- 
named  article  for  the  purpose  proposed  is  to  be  obtained.  As  saw-dust, 
oak  is  known  to  perform  best,  probably  because  of  its  excess  in  tannic 
acid. 

As  of  application  with  whatever  matrix  employed  it  is  pertinent 
only  to  add,  as  a  further  result  of  our  experience  in  the  matter,  a  few 
convictions  touching  the  appliances  best  suited  to  the  treatment  of  juice 
in  considerable  volumes. 

The  advantage  of  duplex,  double-acting  plunger  pumps,  extra  large 
for  their  duty  and  operated  at  low-piston  speeds,  with  exceedingly  ca- 
pacious air  vessels  and  sensitive  safety-valves  placed  close  to  the  pumps, 
the  last  of  equal  conducting  capacity  with  the  feed-pipes,  was  fully  in- 
dicated. To  thus  insure,  by  every  means,  against  sudden  variations  of 
pressure,  such,  especially,  as  the  vibratory  pulsations  inseparable  from 
ordinary  pumping  plants,  seemed  essential  to  a  cake  of  maximum 
uniformity  and  uniformly  well  adapted  to  lixiviation  in  all  its  parts, 
as  before  insisted.  With  the  lixiviating  apparatus  itself  this  complete- 
ness in  erection  is  even  more  prominently  to  be  indorsed,  except  that, 
as  no  grit  is  here  to  be  encountered,  piston-pumps  should  sullice.  A 
continuous  stream  of  liquid  running  from  the  safety-valves,  both  juice 
aud  lixiviating,  should  be  maintained  during  operation.  In  the  most 
perfect  practice  no  approach  to  theoretical  displacement  has  been  found 
to  occur.  This  supplementary  process  is,  unfortunately,  at  the  most  we 
have  been  able  to  make  it,  little  more  than  has  been  expressed  with  the 
word  lixiviation.  Whiting  aud  highly  colored  liquids  render  its  study 
facile. 

The  absolute  necessity  to  the  process  of  chamber  presses,  whether 
top,  bottom,  or  central  feed,  and,  conversely,  the  total  unsuitability  of 
frame-presses  in  general  to  it,  was  left  in  no  doubt.  Each  operation 
consumes  so  short  an  interval  that  a  Large  percentage  of  total  time  is 
spent  in  emptying.  A  chamber-press  can  be  emptied  readily  in  one 
half  the  period  consumed  by  one  of  the  frame  variety  for  the  same  num- 
ber of  cakes.  As  the  cloths  need  be  removed  not  oftener  than  twice  a 
week  the  loss  from  this  source,  in  employing  such,  is  negligible.  It  is 
not  true  that  cloths  wear  most  rapidly  from  use  in  chamber  presses,  ex- 
cept these  be  ill  constructed.  The  tendency  during  lixiviation  which 
the  water  exhibits,  however  this  be  fed  and  no  matter  how  superla- 
tively perfect  the  cake  is,  to  cut  of  itself  a  ready  and  continuous  chan- 
nel about  the  cake's  peripheral  joint  with  the  iron  frame,  has  been  men- 
tioned. This  results  in  a  sludge  formed  along  the  cake's  feather  edges 
which,  upon  opening  the  press,  runs  more  or  less,  despite  the  best  effort, 

down  the  dame's  sides,  especially  along  its  bottom  portions,  com  pro 
mising  the  joint  Which  this  afterwards  makes  with  its  adjoining  cloth 
Following  three  rounds  with  brown  coal,  such  a  pros  can' not  he  made 
tight  and  after  four  or  live  may  even  refuse  to  close,  except  the  sin 
be  laboriously  cleansed  with  iron  scrapers.  In  chamber  presses  (he  peri- 
pheral joint  is  made  between  cake  and  cloth  and  not  between  cake  and 
iron.      From  this  fact,  alone  it  is  far  more  perfect      lis  form,  however,  if 

properly  designed,  is  of  yet  greater  importance  and,  presenting  no 
longer  uecessai  iiy  a  line  of  least  resistance,  reduces  the  chance  of  sludge, 
besides  insuring,  other  things  equal,  a  more  uniform  ami  complete  dis« 


110 

placement  with  reduced  quantities  of  water  by  preventing  the  forma- 
tion of  such  water  channels  as  those  before  described.  If,  by  any  chance, 
a  small  amount  of  semi-liquid  material  here  runs  in  like  manner,  notwith- 
standing, this  interferes  in  but  half  degree  with  a  press  joint  now  made 
between  two  thicknesses  of  the  fabric  instead  of  between  iron  and  one 
such.  Although  in  top  and  bottom  fed  chamber  presses  the  liquor 
inter-ports  of  the  individual  chambers  may  be  of  greater  diameter  than 
those  possible  with  frames,  yet  from  liability  to  obstruction  the  center 
feed  is  to  be  preferred. 

Any  filter-press  constructed  for  the  use  of  brown  coal  or  any  of  its 
congeners  should  be  recessed  for  1J  instead  of  for  1  inch  cakes.  This 
statement  will  not  remain  true  except  that  in  all  cases  the  wisdom  of 
employing  the  matrix  in  excess  in  confirmed.  A  yet  greater  thickness 
in  these  might  then  perhaps  prove  still  more  advantageous  were  it  not 
the  limit  at  which,  in  such  presses,  the  cloths  have  been  made  to  stand. 
Without  attempting  an  explanation  of  the  fact  it  remains  that  with 
chambers  of  increased  thickness  higher  results  per  square  foot  of  filter- 
ing area  are  attained,  this  dimension  even  doubled,  curiously  enough 
as  it  would  seem,  requiring  but  a  very  small  fraction  more  of  time  for 
cake  completion  than  before,  so  long  as  a  slight  excess  only  of  matrix  is 
in  each  instance  employed.  This  is  best  illustrated  in  starch  manufact- 
ure. Speed  in  filtration  is,  then,  increased  by  this  innovation,  except 
for  deficiency  of  matrix  ;  a  relative  reduction  in  the  amount  of  sweet- 
water  to  be  dealt  with  is  secured  and  proportionate  time  is  saved  in 
emptying. 

Since  it  consumes  no  more  time  to  empty  thirty  chambers  presenting 
400  square  feet  of  filtering  area  than  thirty  aggregating  but  220,  presses 
of  the  former  size  should  alone  be  used  for  the  purpose  under  consider- 
ation. Such  are  decidedly  cheaper  in  first  cost  per  square  foot  of  filter- 
ing surface  ;  are  as  readily  handled  and  kept  tight,  and  require,  propor- 
tionately to  the  work  done,  fewer  laborers.  They  occupy  scarcely  more 
space. 

The  presses  should  be  worked  in  batteries  after  the  English  plan, 
instead  of  by  rotation,  as  practiced  in  Germany.  This  avoids  a  fall  of 
pressure,  with  consequent  loss  of  time  and  a  cake  ill  suited  to  lixiviation 
in  the  other  active  presses,  when  one  freshly  prepared  is  set  in  operation. 
It  also  permits,  which  is  of  much  consequence,  low  pressures  at  the 
start,  which  are  gradually  increased  to  high  at  the  finish — a  practice 
precluding  all  attempt  at  governing  the  pressure  at  the  pump's  throttle 
by  an  attached  pressure  regulator. 

A  precipitate  invariably  following  evaporation,  by  whatever  means 
accomplished,  of  juice  filtered  through  brown  coal,  the  filtration  of 
sirup  was  accorded  some  study.  For  this  purpose  from  lli  to  15  per 
cent,  of  lignite  on  the  weight  of  sugar  operated  QDOD  was  found  neces- 
sary to  satisfactorily  rapid  work,  previous  treatment    notwithstanding. 

Again  the  improvement  in  purity  was  not  marked,  averaging 0.82 j  that 
in  color  being  the  more  conspicuous  result,  at  about  40  per  cent,  of  this 
removed. 

For  sirups  from  unliltered  juices  the  ratio  of  lignite  had,  of  course,  to 
be  increased  until  percentages  approaching  those  employed  with  juice 

had  been  attained.  Equal  amounts  would  probably  have  been  necessary, 
in  terms  of  sugar,  exeept  for  scums  removed  and  some  S  to  10  per  cent. 

of  the  juice  itself  already  filtered  with  these,  decant  at  ion  of  clear  liquor 

from  skimmings  not  having  been  practiced.  Mere  bulk,  thus,  in  the 
filtrate,  was  seen  to  exercise  no  perceptible  influence  in  this  work,  'flic 
dilution  of  sirup  by  the  addition  ot  water  in  any  amount  can,  of  course, 


Ill 

in  no  wise  reduce  the  quantity  of  coal  required,  which  is  determined  alone 
by  the  quantity  and  quality  of  non-sugar  dealt  with.  Neither  the  net 
result  in  purity  nor  in  color  was  equivalent  in  filtered  sirup  from  unfiltered 
juice  to  that  secured  in  unfiltered  sirups  from  filtered  juice.  The  glucose 
ratios  of  sirups  first  filtered  as  such  were  always  considerably  higher 
than  those  of  unfiltered  sirups  derived  from  filtered  juices  of  like  quality. 
It  is  supposed  that  by  the  filtration  of  juice — though  this  is  left  in  all 
cases  more  acid  by  the  process — certain  active  inverting  agents  are  re- 
moved, thus  reducing  the  losses  otherwise  sustained  in  concentration. 
The  brown  coal  also  removed  an  amount  of  reducing  sugars  relatively 
larger  than  that  of  sucrose  lost  in  the  operation,  the  glucose  ratio  being 
almost  uniformly  lower  after  than  before  filtration,  whether  of  juice  or 
sirup.     The  ash  is  also  reduced. 

Not  above  530  gallons  of  sirup  from  unfiltered  juice  could  be  put 
through  a  30  frame  Kroog  press  with  25  per  ceut.  of  brown  coal  on  the 
weight  of  its  sucrose  at  one  operation,  this,  complete,  occupying  about 
four  hours.  A  I  -inch  frame  or  chamber  was  found  ample  in  the  treat- 
ment of  sirups,  but  even  for  this  work  400-foot  presses,  it  is  thought, 
would  be  preferred.  Thinner  frames  would  be  necessary  with  reduced 
percentages  of  lignite.  Lower  pressures  than  those  mentioned  for  juice 
gave  the  more  satisfactory  results,  which,  also,  should  be  extremely 
steady. 

The  cake  from  sirup  filtrations  following  that  of  the  juice,  with  or 
without  lixiviation,  when  mixed  with  the  amount  of  fresh  coal  necessary 
to  bring  the  total  of  this  to  the  usual  standard,  was  iound  to  perform 
about  as  well  on  a  fresh  Supply  of  juice  as  an  equal  total  of  fresh  coal, 
the  amount  of  the  latter  being  thus  proportionately  reduced.  In  prac- 
tice this  would  obviate  the  difficulty  of  sweet  water  from  the  sirup 
filters.  Wood  char  was  given  no  trial  in  connection  with  concentrated 
liquors.  The  whole  subject  of  s'rup  filtration,  in  filter  presses,  merits 
more  thorough  investigation  than  circumstances  have  vet  permitted  at 
this  factory,  although  success  with  such  can  scarcely  supplant  the  far 
greater  necessity  tor  previous  treatment  of  the  juices. 

Experiments,  by  no  means  exhaustive,  were  also  made  with  the  Bauer 
process.  This  tailed  from  the  first  The  mucilaginous  impurities,  pass- 
ing through  the  interstices  of  the  bone  char,  reached  and  occluded  at 
once  the  pores  of  the  cloth,  thus  bringing  operations  to  a  speedy  ter- 
mination with  every  trial.  The  cloths  were  washed  with  great  difficulty. 
To  fully  meet  every  prejudice,  the  entirely  inut ile  use  of  various  fabrics 
was  resorted  to.  With  bone-black, from  coarse  to  finest,  the  result  was 
always  the  same.  Indeed,  as  is  well  known,  animal  char  in  sugar 
work  is  an  extremely  poor  filtering  medium,  no  matter  how  skillfully 
revivified,  and  except  for  the  preliminary  Taylor  or  bag  filtration  could 
Scarcely  be  used  after  the  manner  or  in  the  per  cents,  at  present  com- 
mon, except  upon  the  highest  centrifugal  goods,  even  in  the  refining  of 
sugars  from  which  the  major  portion  of  QOn-SUgar  has  already  been 
removed,  npOU  the  plantation,  in  scums,  sediments,  and  molasses — sub- 
stances which  are  yet  left  remaining  with  us  in  our  treatment  of  juices. 
It  is   imperative  with   this  article,  in   our  work  at  least,  that  it    he  used 

in  quantities  quite  beyond  the  utmost  ability  of  filter-presses  to  accom- 
modate. 

Notwithstanding  the  meager  results  as  yef  secured,  eventual  suc- 
cess in  the  economic  mechanical  filtration  <>f  ihe  entile  body  of  defe- 
cated juice  Is  not  altogether  despaired  of.     Its  difficulties  have  been 

greatly  underrated.  All  the  juices  thus  tar  dealt  with  have  been  tno 
product    of  milling  under  pressures  attaining  from   65  to  78  percent. 


112 

of  these  upon  the  weight  of  canes  crushed.  So  successful  throughout 
has  been  the  routine  work  in  this  establishment  with  skimmings  and 
settlings  from  all  manner  of  canes  and  with  many  modes  of  defeca- 
tion, and  so  small  has  been  at  any  time  the  immediate  improvement 
in  the  purity  co-efficient  attributable  to  it,  and  yet,  by  comparison, 
so  easy  and  rapid  a  second  filtration,  as  to  have  forced  a  conviction 
that  in  but  an  exceedingly  small  part  of  the  total  non-sugar  resides 
well  nigh  the  whole  difficulty.  This  probably  minute  portion  of  espe- 
cially refractory  material  has  been  traced,  as  an  insoluble,  suspended 
impurity,  to  raw  juice  direct  from  the  rolls,  which  presents  in  the  filter 
practically  all  the  perplexities  encountered  after  defecation,  and  may 
be  followed  thence  quite  to  the  molasses.  The  microscope  has  not 
identified  it  at  100  diameters.  Fermentation  fails  to  remove  it.  Al- 
though itself  probably  inert  and  harmless,  it  suffices  to  render  most  diffi- 
cult or  altogether  impossible  a  process  which,  in  effecting  an  immediate 
improvement,  if  only  of  several  points  in  the  exponent,  would  yet  suffice 
before  the  by-product  was  reached  to  add  directly  or  indirectly  a  de- 
cided increment  to  the  otherwise  possible  rendement.  Your  success  in 
filter-pressing  carbonated  diffusion  juices  this  season  of  1887-'88,  at  the 
Magnolia  Station,  leads  to  the  hope  that  this  small  part,  whatever  it 
may  be,  is  either  in  great  measure  eliminated  from  the  artificial  juice 
by  diffusion,  or  else  is  amenable  to  chemical  treatment  (other  than 
carbonation),  such  as  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose  will  not  escape  ade- 
quate research.  In  either  case  the  benefit  to  accrue  would  become  im- 
portant to  the  local  industry,  the  substitution  of  osmosis  for  pressure  in 
juice  extraction  by  large  central  factories  now  seeming  as  if  eventually 
inevitable. 

It  is  proposed  by  the  proprietor  that  the  investigation  of  this  subject 
shall  continue  at  this  place  uninterruptedly  throughout  another  season. 
At  his  desire  I  express  the  hope  that  it  may  not  be  impossible  with 
you  to  detail  a  chemist  from  your  department  to  aid  in  this  search  for 
an  improved  defecation.  It  is  not  to  be  overlooked  how,  to  the  present, 
your  department,  in  pursuing  its  inquiries  with  respect  of  sugar  manu- 
facture, has  neglected  altogether  the  sulphur  regimen  universally 
found  in  Louisiana's  practice,  excepting  only  at  its  previously  chosen 
station. 

With  much  respect,  sir,  I  am  yours,  very  truly, 

W.  J.  Thompson. 

Dr.  H.  W.  Wiley, 

Chemist,  U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture, 

Washington,  D.  0. 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Fig.  l.  Ensilage  catter  ased  at  Fort  ocott  for  cutting  cane  into  convenient  lengths 

for  cleaning. 
FlG.  I  {his).  View  of  cutter  used  at  Fort  Scott  for  preparing  the  pieces  of  cant-  after 

cleaning  for  the  diffusion  battery. 
2.  View  of  the  top  of  the  battery  at  Tort  Scott. 
FlG.  3.  View  under  the  battery  at  Fort  Scott,  showing  ear  for  removal  of  exhausted 

chips. 
FlG.   b  Outline  of  apparatus  used  for  cutting  and  cleaning  cane  and  preparing  it  for 

diffusion  at  Rio  Grande,  New  Jen 
Fig.  5.  View  of  diffusion  battery  ased  at  Rio  Grande,  X<w  Jersey. 

ir,no_y«).  l; 8  U3 


Jlppiv 'nl u«  fur  Preparing  Cane  fir  Diffusion  Sattrrj 


INDEX. 


Page. 

Attorney-General,  copy  of  statement  of  facts  submitted  to 63 

Available  sugar  in  sorghum 1U 

Analysis  necessary  in  sugar  factory „.c 44 

B. 

Bartbelemy,  E.  C,  instructions  sent  to 77 

Bauer's  process,  experiments  with Ill 

Belle  City  Manufacturing  Company,  cutter  made  by »'» 

Benny  worth,  Hon.  John,  erection  of  sugar  factory  by 81 

Boiling  to  grain,  description  of ;*7 

Bounty  on  sorghum  sugar 19 

Brown  coal  and  wood  char  in  the  filtration  of  cane  juices  and  sirups B8 

C. 

Calumet  sugar  house,  experiments  at.. 99 

Cane  crushers,  experiments  with 7 

Cane  slicer  built  by  Sangerhauser  Company "1 

Cane  sugar,  inversion  of SSI 

Carbonate  of  lime,  use  of,  in  battery 11 

(  Vntral  factories 55 

Centrifugal  machines  at  Fort  Scott 39 

( 'hemioai  work  at  Fort  Scott,  summary  of 15 

Rio  Grande,  summary  of 71 

<  Ships,  disposition  of '."' 

Coal  consumed  in  diffusion  experiments W 

Collier,  Dr.  Peter,  studies  oo  sorghum 21 

Col  well,  A.  W..  assistance  rendered  by 

Commissioners  of  Agriculture,  encouragement  of  sorghum  by  successive 96 

( longress,  aid  solicited  from '. 83 

Cowgill,  Prof.  E.  B.,  report  of 81 

Cutting  and  cleaning  apparatus 41 

Crampton,  Dr.  c.  a.,  average  analyses  from  tables  prepared  bj H 

aitstract  of  repoii  of 15 

(  rystallizing  sugars,  experiments  in 71 

Cyclone,  diffusion  building  injured  by 98 

D. 

Data,  analytical,  obtained  from  drat  diffusion  run S -; 

second  diffusion  run M 

third  di  ft'u  si  on  run H 

fourth  di  I't'ii  si  on  run W 

till h  diffusion  run 

Defecation,  experiments  in 

Densmorc  Bros.,  repoii  of 

Denton,  A.  A., report  of \ 

Department  of  A  g|  icult  ure,  early  investigations  by 81 

further  work  of 

1  Nffusion,  description  of  the  process  of I 

batter] ,  simplification  oi Ml 

first  trial  of 

116 


116 

Page. 

Diffusion,  second  trial  of «. 84 

third  trial  of 85 

fourth  trial  of 86 

fifth  trial  of 87 

trials,  summary  of  results  of 89 

j  uices,  characteristics  of 89 

experiments  in  Louisiana,  description  of 95 

Double  effect  evaporators 30 

Dugan,  John,  master  of  diffusion,  experiments  by 9(5 

Dymond  &  McCall,  Messrs..  members  of  advisory  committee 9H 

E. 

Edson,  Hubert,  abstract  of  report  of 71 

Exhaust  chips,  utilization  of 13 

Experiments  with  diffusion  at  Lawrence,  La 77 

F. 

Factory,  cost  of 12 

Fake,  N.  J.,  chemical  work  by 96 

Farmer's  part  most  important  in  sugar  making 32 

Fehliug's  solution  of  copper 45 

Field,  J.  A.,  &Co.,  mill  made  by 7 

Filtering  juices,  experiments  in 6 

Filtration  experiments,  table  of 100,101,103,104 

Fort  Scott,  experiments  with  sorghum  at 5 

company,  organization  of 24 

factory,  the  work  at 33 

G. 

Grape  sugar  test 45 

H, 

Heat,  effects  on  sorghum  juices 11 

Binze,  Frederick,  services  at  Fort  Scott :>~ 

Historical  sketch  of  sorghum  plant 21 

Hughes,  H.  A.,  report  of t>7 

cost  of  sugar  factories  estimated  by W 

I. 

Improving  the  seed *J 

[ngalls.  Hon.  J.  J.,  letter  of  transmission  to 97 

Inspector,  Prof.  B,  B.  Cowgill  appointed  as W 

Introductory  letfer 3 

Inversion  ocsngai  in  the  diffusion  cells 3i 

in  battery,  prevention  of * 

N. 

K  lee  man.  l'.,  experiments  on  lignite  by M 

L. 

Lawn-nee,  L.i,,  experiments  at " 

Louisiana  BUgSJ  experiment  station,  native  coals  obtained  from 1"2 

Lett eis  patent  -ranted  to  M.  Swenson J»[ 

Liebold,  S.  A..  A  Co.,  erection  of  Borghnm  factory  by •* 

Lignite,  report  on,  bj  w.  J.  Thompson JJ 

experiments  with,  by  W.  J.  Thompson JJ 

I'.  Kleeman 

QSe  of,  in  Louisiana ' } 

expel  line  lit-,    Wltll.    Oil    SOIghUIll ' 


117 


Page. 

Methods  of  analysis  in  sugar  work 44 

Mill  and  diffusion,  comparative  yield  by 9^ 

O. 

Optical  method  of  sugar  analysis 

Ottawa,  Kans.,  report  of  work  done  at 23 

P. 

Parkinson,  Hon.  W.  L.,  report  of,  to  board  of  directors 26 

Plumb,  Senator,  labors  in  behalf  of  an  appropriation  by 23 

Q. 

Quantity  of  juice  drawn  from  each  cell 9o 

Remmers  &  Williamson,  wood  char  process  of 107 

Rio  Grande,  N.  J.,  experiments  at 67 

summary  of  chemical  work  at 71 

S. 

Sandys,  R.  M.  &  Co.,  erection  of  sorghum  factory  by 21 

Sangerhaiiser  Company,  cutter  built  by 81 

Ifaschinen-fabrik  lignite  imported  from 100 

Scientific  work,  need  of,  in  sorghum  factory 41 

Scowl],  Prof.  M.  A.,  factory  of 22 

Schulze,  Ernest,  assistance  rendered  by 82 

Scums  and  sediment,  disposition  of 90 

Season  of  working  sugar,  Length  of 51 

at  Bio  Grande 69 

selection,  improvement  of  sorghum  by 48 

Sieg,  R.,  assistance  rendered  as  consulting  engineer 96 

instructed  to  build  cutter 82 

Skimmings,  disposition  of,  at  Fort  Scott 36 

silo,  analysis  of  juiceof  cane,  kept  in 52 

Frank  Stroback's  experiments  in  keeping  cane  in :»1 

storing  cane  in 51 

Sims,  William,  secretary  of  State    board  of  agriculture,  instructions  to  Prof.  E. 

B.  Cowgill  by 19 

Sorghum,  can  the  farmer  make  his  own  sugar  from 56 

available  sugar  in 10 

cane,  comparison  of,  H  ith   Louisiana  <  a  no 47 

how  far  it  may  DC   hauled 

crop  of  Rio  Grande 68 

indtist  iy,  needs  of 13 

future  of 50 

in  Kansas 18 

seed,  crop  of 89 

Spencer,  <;.  F.,  experiments  in  lilt  ration  by,  in    L886 107 

in  charge  of  lime-kiln  and  carbonatation  apparatus 

Stammer.  l>r.  Karl,  text  book  of  SOgai  making  by M 

Mate  of  Kansas,  encouragement  of  sorghum   indusl  ry,  by 

Statement  of  facts  submitted  to  the  Attorney-General  by  the  Commissionei  of 

Agriculture 83 

Sterling  Simp  Works,  exp  riments  in  air  evaporat  ion  at :.: 

St  roba«- k,  Fi  auk,  experiments  Ul  keeping  cane  in  silo,  by 51 

Sugar  factories,  oapaeitj  of...                  i  | 

estimat., i  coal  of,  by  II.  A.  Hughes 

making,  outline  of  process  of S] 

Planters  association,  reports  of  oommittee  ohosen  by 78 

refineries t*> 

Bwenson,  M  .  letters  patent  granted  to. 

report  of 


118 

T. 

Tage. 

Thompson,  W.  J.,  experiments  by,  on  lignite 91 

report  on  lignite  by 99 

Trial  runs  with  sorghum '. 9 

W. 

Warmotb,  Gov.  H.  C,  paper  read  before  the  Planters'  Association,  by 92 

aid  rendered  by .*. 96 

Weber,  Professor,  factory  of 22 

Wiley,  Prof.  H.  W.,  experiments  with  diffusion  in  1833,  by , -J.' 

Wilkinsou,  J.  B.,  jr.,  assistance  rendered  by 96 

Y. 

Yaryan  quadruple  effect,  used  in  diffusion  experiments 88 

Yield  of  sugar  from  sorghum,  average 10 

obtained  at  Fort  Scott 49- 


IIVERJ 


LORIDA 


3  1262  09216  6684 


